Avaliação do crescimento e desenvolvimento infantil e fatores de risco de um município que integra uma universidade brasileira de cunho internacional / Evaluation of childhood growth and development and risk factors of a municipality that is part of an international brazilian university / Evaluación de los factores de crecimiento y desarrollo infantil y de riesgo de un municipio que forma parte de una universidad brasileña internacional

Fatores de risco, incluindo os de cunho materno, interferem no crescimento e desenvolvimento infantil. Nesse sentido, o conhecimento desses fatores e avaliação ade- quada desses processos são necessários para articulação de estratégias preventivas de transtornos futuros. Assim, o estudo visou investigar o crescimento e desenvolvimento de crianças atendidas em consulta de puericultura em unidades básicas de saúde de um mu- nicípio cearense, que integra uma universidade brasileira de cunho internacional, e seus fatores de risco. Trata-se de estudo observacional, analítico, transversal e de abordagem quantitativa, conduzido com crianças e suas mães no Centro de Saúde de Acarape e Posto de Saúde São Benedito (Acarape ­ CE), no período de fevereiro a julho de 2021. Após consentimento, as mães preencheram um questionário, seguido de avaliação do cresci- mento e desenvolvimento das crianças. Os dados obtidos foram analisados. Das 70 crian- ças, 50,00% (n = 17) e 51,43% (n = 18) dos meninos e meninas tinham baixa estatura para idade, respectivamente. Para o desenvolvimento psicossocial, dos 284 testes condu- zidos, 86,27% (n = 245) foram realizados em plenitude pelas crianças. Observou-se as- sociação significativa entre a gestante ter concebido o filho com, no mínimo, 9 meses de período gestacional e esse apresentar relação Peso/Idade adequada e Estatura/Idade ina- dequada. Houve associação significativa entre a criança não ingerir refresco em pó e apre- sentar relação Peso/Idade adequada. Conclui-se que as crianças tinham idade gestacional adequada e apresentavam estado nutricional apropriado, apesar da baixa estatura para idade. Manifestavam desenvolvimento psicossocial, de linguagem e físico normais. Sobre os fatores de risco, esses envolveram os de cunho materno e o consumo de alimentos cariogênicos.

Risk factors, including maternal ones, interfere with child growth and de- velopment. In this sense, knowledge of these factors and adequate evaluation of these processes are necessary to articulate preventive strategies for future disorders. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the growth and development of children seen in childcare con- sultations in primary health units in Ceará, part of a Brazilian university of international character, and their risk factors. This is an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, conducted with children and their mothers at the Acarape Health Center and São Benedito Health Center (Acarape ­ CE), from February to July 2021. After consent, the mothers completed a questionnaire, followed by an assessment of the children's growth and development. The data obtained were analyzed. Of the 70 children, 50.00% (n = 17) and 51.43% (n = 18) of the boys and girls were short for their age, respectively. Of the 284 tests conducted for psychosocial development, 86.27% (n = 245) were entirely performed by the children. A significant association was observed between the pregnant woman having conceived her child at least nine months of gestation and having an adequate Weight/Age and Height/Age ratio. There was a significant asso- ciation between the child not ingesting powdered soft drinks and having an appropriate Weight/Age ratio. It was concluded that the children had an adequate gestational age and had an appropriate nutritional status, despite their low height for their age. They showed normal psychosocial, language, and physical development. The risk factors involved those of mother nature and the consumption of cariogenic foods.

Los factores de riesgo, incluidos los maternos, interfieren en el crecimiento y desarrollo infantil. En este sentido, el conocimiento de estos factores y la evaluación adecuada de estos procesos son necesarios para articular estrategias preventivas de futu- ros trastornos. Así, el estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar el crecimiento y desarrollo de niños atendidos en consultas de puericultura en unidades básicas de salud de un muni- cipio de Ceará, que forma parte de una universidad brasileña de carácter internacional, y sus factores de riesgo. Se trata de un estudio observacional, analítico, transversal, con enfoque cuantitativo, realizado con niños y sus madres en el Centro de Salud de Acarape y el Centro de Salud São Benedito (Acarape ­ CE), de febrero a julio de 2021. Después del consentimiento, las madres completaron un cuestionario, seguido de una evaluación del crecimiento y desarrollo de los niños. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados. De los 70 niños, el 50,00% (n = 17) y el 51,43% (n = 18) de los niños y niñas eran bajos para su edad, respectivamente. Para el desarrollo psicosocial, de las 284 pruebas realizadas, el 86,27% (n = 245) fueron realizadas íntegramente por los niños. Se observó una asociación significativa entre la gestante haber concebido a su hijo con al menos 9 meses de gesta- ción y tener una adecuada relación Peso/Edad y Talla/Edad. Hubo asociación significativa entre el niño que no ingiere gaseosas en polvo y presentar una adecuada relación Peso/Edad. Se concluyó que los niños tenían una edad gestacional adecuada y un estado nutricional adecuado, a pesar de su baja talla para su edad. Presentaron un desarrollo psi- cosocial, lingüístico y físico normal. En cuanto a los factores de riesgo, estos involucraron los de naturaleza materna y el consumo de alimentos cariogénicos.

Food practices and nutritional status of university students who use the University Restaurant / Práticas alimentares e o estado nutricional entre estudantes universitários usuários do Restaurante-Escola

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the food practices and nutritional status of students who use the University Restaurant at a public university. Methods This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 958 university students. Data related to regular eating practices (≥5 times/week), routine food consumption and nutritional status were collected. The association between University Restaurant attendance and dietary practices and body mass index was reviewed by bivariate logistic regression model and multiple regression. Results Students who attended the University Restaurant three or more times a week were more likely to regularly consume beans (OR: 1.35, p=0.041) and fresh salad (OR: 1.77, p<0.001) and less likely to have afternoon snack (OR: 0.68; p=0.008). In addition, an association between soda consumption and overweight was observed. Conclusion Thus, the importance of strategies that seek to promote incentives for healthy eating and lifestyle practices in the university population become evident.

RESUMO Objetivo O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar as práticas alimentares e o estado nutricional de estudantes usuários do restaurante-escola em uma universidade pública. Métodos Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com 958 estudantes universitários. Foram coletados dados relacionados às práticas alimentares regulares (≥5 vezes/semana), à rotina alimentar e ao estado nutricional. A associação entre a frequência de ida ao restaurante-escola, práticas alimentares e índice de massa corporal foi analisada por modelo de regressão logística bivariada e regressão múltipla. Resultados Os estudantes que frequentaram o restaurante-escola 3 ou mais vezes por semana apresentaram maiores chances de consumir regularmente feijão (OR: 1,35, p=0,041) e salada crua (OR: 1,77, p<0,001) e menos chances de realizar o lanche da tarde (OR: 0,68; p=0,008). Além disso, foi observada associação entre o consumo de refrigerante e o excesso de peso. Conclusão Dessa forma, evidencia-se a importância de estratégias que busquem promover incentivos a práticas alimentares e de vida saudáveis na população universitária.

Rastreamento clínico e nutricional de gestantes de alto risco na estratégia de saúde da família de Santa Quitéria - CE / Clinical and nutritional screening of high-risk pregnant women in the family health strategy of Santa Quitéria - CE / Cribado clínico y nutricional de las embarazadas de alto riesgo en la estrategia de salud familiar de Santa Quitéria - CE

Considera-se gestação de alto risco quando a mulher apresenta comorbidade materna e/ou condição sociobiológica que levam as chances de ocorrer alguma intercorrência na evolução natural da gravidez, como hipertensão arterial, diabetes, anemia, alcoolismo e obesidade. É de grande importância o acompanhamento pré-natal com uma equipe de assistência capaz de identificar os problemas antes mesmo que possam ser agravados. O objetivo deste estudo foi rastrear o perfil clínico e nutricional de mulheres com gestação de alto risco na Estratégia de Saúde da Família de Santa Quitéria- CE. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa realizado com 33 gestantes. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizado o cartão da gestante e prontuário, o estado nutricional foi avaliado através do peso pré- gestacional contido no cartão e peso atual através da balança. Para análise estatística, foram usados frequências, percentuais, médias e desvio padrão, verificadas por meio dos testes de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e Levene. Para a comparação de médias entre duas categorias, utilizou-se o teste t de Student para amostras independentes. Os resultados mostraram que a maioria tinha o ensino médio como nível de escolaridade, renda igual ou menor que um salário mínimo, multíparas com um ou mais abortos. Em relação às características do estado clínico patológico, as condições mais prevalentes nas gestantes do presente estudo foram hipertensão arterial sistêmica, pré-eclâmpsia, seguidos de DMG e eritoblastose. Excesso de peso antes e durante a gravidez com ganho ponderal de peso adequado. O que demonstra a necessidade de estratégias para a saúde da mulher. É apropriado acionar sinal de alerta no acompanhamento da saúde da mulher também antes da gestação e não somente no pré-natal para que transcorra bem durante e após o parto. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Estado nutricional; Gestação de alto risco; Assistência Pré-Natal.

High-risk pregnancy is considered when the woman presents maternal comorbidity and/or sociobiological condition that increase the chances of some complication occurring in the natural evolution of pregnancy, such as arterial hypertension, diabetes, anemia, alcoholism, and obesity; It is of great importance the prenatal follow-up with an assistance team capable of identifying the problems even before they can be aggravated; The objective of this study was to track the clinical and nutritional profile of women with high-risk pregnancy in the Family Health Strategy of Santa Quitéria-CE; This is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach carried out with 33 pregnant women; For data collection the pregnant woman's card and medical records were used, the nutritional status was evaluated through the pre-gestational weight contained in the card and current weight through the scale; For statistical analysis, frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation were used, verified by means of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Levene tests;For comparison of means between two categories, Student's t test for independent samples was used; The results showed that most had high school education, income equal to or less than one minimum wage, multiparous women with one or more abortions; Regarding the characteristics of the pathological medical condition, the most prevalent conditions in the pregnant women of the present study were hypertension, pre- eclampsia, followed by GDM and erythoblastosis; Overweight before and during pregnancy with adequate weight gain; This demonstrates the need for women's health strategies; It is appropriate to trigger warning signals in the monitoring of women's health also before pregnancy and not only in the prenatal period so that it goes well during and after delivery;

Se considera embarazo de alto riesgo cuando la mujer presenta comorbilidad materna y/o condición socio-biológica que conlleva las posibilidades de aparición de alguna complicación en la evolución natural del embarazo, como son la hipertensión, la diabetes, la anemia, el alcoholismo y la obesidad. Es de gran importancia el seguimiento prenatal con un equipo de asistencia capaz de identificar los problemas incluso antes de que puedan agravarse. El objetivo de este estudio fue rastrear el perfil clínico y nutricional de las mujeres con embarazo de alto riesgo en la Estrategia de Salud Familiar de Santa Quitéria-CE. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo con un enfoque cuantitativo realizado con 33 mujeres embarazadas. Para la recopilación de datos se utilizó el cartón de la gestante y el prontuario, el estado nutricional se evaluó a través del peso pregestacional contenido en el cartón y el peso actual a través de la balanza. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizaron frecuencias, porcentajes, medias y desviación estándar, verificados mediante las pruebas de Kolmogorov-Smirnov y Levene. Para la comparación de medias entre dos categorías, se utilizó la prueba t de Student para muestras independientes. Los resultados mostraron que la mayoría tenía estudios secundarios, ingresos iguales o inferiores a un salario mínimo, mujeres multíparas con uno o más abortos. En cuanto a las características del estado clínico patológico, las condiciones más prevalentes en las embarazadas del presente estudio fueron la hipertensión arterial sistémica, la preeclampsia, seguidas de la DMG y la eritoblastosis. Exceso de peso antes y durante el embarazo con un aumento de peso adecuado. Lo que demuestra la necesidad de estrategias de salud para las mujeres. Es conveniente activar la señal de alarma en el seguimiento de la salud de las mujeres también antes del embarazo y no sólo en la atención prenatal para que funcione bien durante y después del parto.

The effect of reproductive, hormonal, nutritional and lifestyle on breast cancer risk among black Tanzanian women: A case control study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of reproductive, hormonal, lifestyle and nutritional factors on breast cancer development among Tanzanian black women. METHODOLOGY: We undertook a case-control study age-matched to ±5years in 2018 at Muhimbili National Hospital. The study recruited 105 BC patients and 190 controls giving it 80% power to detect an odds ratio of ≥2 at the alpha error of <5% for exposure with a prevalence of 30% in the control group with 95% confidence. Controls were recruited from in patients being treated for non-cancer related conditions. Information regarding hormonal, reproductive, nutritional and lifestyle risk for breast cancer and demography was collected by interviews using a predefined data set. Conditional multinomial logistic regression used to determine the adjusted odds ratio for variables that had significant p-value in the binomial logistic regression model with 5% allowed error at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The study recruited 105 cases and 190 controls. Only old age at menopause had a significant risk, a 2.6 fold increase. Adolescent obesity, family history of breast cancer, cigarette smoking and alcohol intake had increased odds for breast cancer but failed to reach significant levels. The rural residency had 61% reduced odds for developing breast cancer though it failed to reach significant levels. CONCLUSION: Older age at menopause is a significant risk factor for the development of breast cancer among Tanzanian women. This study has shed light on the potential role of modifiable risk factors for breast cancer which need to be studied further for appropriate preventive strategies in similar settings.

The impact of nutritional status on health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

Malnutrition is frequent in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Nutritional deficiencies may negatively impact quality of life (QOL). This study examines the utility of the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) in detecting nutritional risk (NR) and assesses the correlation between nutritional status and QOL in dialysis patients upon starting a nutritional intervention program (NIP). One hundred and twenty patients were included in this cross-sectional study. The MIS was used to detect NR and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL-SF) instrument version 1.2 was used to assess QOL. 62% of patients were found to be at NR (MIS > 5). Nutritional status was significantly correlated with all generic QOL sub-scales. On a multiple linear regression analysis, malnutrition showed the highest level of explanation in the Kidney Disease Summary Component which explained 28.9% of the variance; the Physical Component Summary which explained 33% of the variance; and the Mental Component Summary which explained 21.5% of the variance. Malnutrition was found to be the most significant predictor of impaired scores on the KDQOL-SF. The use of MIS to identify patients at NR and a nutritional assessment to detect malnutrition in its early stages are important given the effects a NIP can have on improving QOL in HD patients.

Mechanisms Underlying the Expansion and Functional Maturation of ß-Cells in Newborns: Impact of the Nutritional Environment.

The functional maturation of insulin-secreting ß-cells is initiated before birth and is completed in early postnatal life. This process has a critical impact on the acquisition of an adequate functional ß-cell mass and on the capacity to meet and adapt to insulin needs later in life. Many cellular pathways playing a role in postnatal ß-cell development have already been identified. However, single-cell transcriptomic and proteomic analyses continue to reveal new players contributing to the acquisition of ß-cell identity. In this review, we provide an updated picture of the mechanisms governing postnatal ß-cell mass expansion and the transition of insulin-secreting cells from an immature to a mature state. We then highlight the contribution of the environment to ß-cell maturation and discuss the adverse impact of an in utero and neonatal environment characterized by calorie and fat overload or by protein deficiency and undernutrition. Inappropriate nutrition early in life constitutes a risk factor for developing diabetes in adulthood and can affect the ß-cells of the offspring over two generations. A better understanding of these events occurring in the neonatal period will help developing better strategies to produce functional ß-cells and to design novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

Weight-for-Height, Body Fat, and Development in Children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.

Importance: Weight-for-height z score (WHZ) is a standard indicator of children's nutritional status even though it does not fully reflect body fat. Objective: To examine the combined association of WHZ and body fat with early development in the East Asia and Pacific region. Design, Setting, and Participants: Children from the East Asia-Pacific Early Child Development Scales validation study, with full data available regarding their nutritional status and outcomes, were included in this cross-sectional analysis. In brief, a multilevel stratified random sampling was used to select representative samples from each participating country in the study. WHZ and body fat were independently trichotomized using established references and were combined to form a 9-category exposure variable. Data collection was performed between 2012 and 2014, and the analyses were conducted in June 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures: The binary outcome variable of not being developmentally on track (hereafter referred to as poor development) was defined as a score less than the 25th percentile in the following domains: cognitive, language, socioemotional, motor development, and total development score. Poisson regression models were used to analyze the associations between the combined categories and poor development, adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Results: A total of 6815 children (mean [SD] age, 4.02 [0.8] years; 3434 girls [50.4%]) had full data available and were included in this study. Compared with children with normal weight and normal fat, those with wasting and low body fat had the highest likelihood of total poor development (prevalence ratio, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.28-1.70), followed by those with normal weight but low fat (prevalence ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.11-1.36). Similar associations were found in language, cognitive, and socioemotional development, but not in motor development. Conclusions and Relevance: Poor development was more commonly found in children with low body fat independent of WHZ (wasted or normal weight). Early public health strategies may consider using a combination of WHZ and body fat as an indicator of poor development.

Nutrition education incorporation into mainstream primary school curriculum in Ghana: Stakeholders' sources of nutrition information and perceived barriers.

INTRODUCTION: Nutrition literacy has been cited as a crucial life skill. Nutrition education as a primary school subject has been treated inconsequentially when compared to other subjects. We investigated an aspect of the current state of nutrition education in Ghana by engaging stakeholders about their sources of nutrition information and the perceived barriers in implementing nutrition education in mainstream primary schools. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty one (351) primary school children, 121 homebased caregivers, six schoolteachers, two headteachers, two Ghana Education Service (GES) officials, and six school cooks were involved in the study. Surveys were used to collect data on nutrition information acquisition behaviors and to record perceived barriers. Key Informant Interviews were conducted among GES officials, headteachers, schoolteachers and school cooks, while Focus Group Discussions were used among homebased caregivers and children to gather qualitative information. RESULTS: Only 36.3% of the primary school children had heard about nutrition, and 71% of those got nutrition information from their family members. About 70% of homebased caregivers had heard or seen nutrition messages, and their source of nutrition information was predominantly traditional media. Schoolteachers mostly received their nutrition information from non-governmental organizations and the Internet, while most of the school cooks stated their main source of nutrition information was hospital visits. Perceived barriers included schoolteachers' knowledge insufficiency, and lack of resources to adequately deliver nutrition education. Lack of a clear policy appeared to be an additional barrier. CONCLUSION: The barriers to the implementation of nutrition education in the mainstream curriculum at the primary school level that were identified in this study can be resolved by: providing schoolteachers with learning opportunities and adequate nutrition education resources for practical delivery, having specific national policy framework, and including family members and school cooks in the nutrition education knowledge and information dissemination process.

Anemia and undernutrition in intestinally parasitized schoolchildren from Gakenke district, Northern Province of Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Rwanda is a sub-Saharan country, where intestinal parasite infections, anemia and undernutrition coexist. The purpose of this research is to study the relationship between intestinal parasite infections and undernutrition/anemia to clarify the priorities of intervention in the rural area of Gakenke district in the Northern Province of Rwanda. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 674 students from Nemba I School, participated in a cross-sectional study, in which their parasitological and nutritional status were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed by χ2 test, univariate analysis and Odds ratios (OR). RESULTS: A total of 95.3% of children presented intestinal parasitism, most of whom (94.5%) infected by protozoa and 36.1% infected by soil-transmitted helminths (STH), with Trichuris trichiura (27.3%) being the most prevalent. Multiple infections were found to be high (83.8%), with protozoa and STH co-infections in 30.6%. STH infections were mainly of low/moderate intensity. Neither infection nor STH infection of any intensity profile, was significantly related to anemia. In addition, STH infection, regardless of the intensity profile, was not associated with stunting, underweight or thinness. There was no difference between genders nor among ages in odds of anemia and nutritional status in STH-infected schoolchildren. CONCLUSION: Multiparasitism remains high among Rwandan schoolchildren and is likely to cause nutritional problems. This work emphasizes the importance of keeping up health programs to reduce the prevalence of infection.

GIARDIA DUODENALIS GENOTYPING NOT LINKED TO CLINICAL SYMPTOMATOLOGY AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN OF SOLEDAD AND GALAPA MUNICIPALITY SCHOOLS, ATLÁNTICO, COLOMBIA.

Giardia duodenalis genotypes A and B have been reported in Colombia. The population consisted of 235 schoolchildren whose ages ranged from 2 to 10 yr of age from the municipalities of Soledad and Galapa in the department of Atlántico, Colombia. Fecal samples were obtained and then analyzed in triplicate using the sedimentation in formalin-ether (Ritchie's method) and direct examination techniques. Of the 235 fecal samples, 35 samples were positive for G. duodenalis; positive samples were concentrated in a sucrose gradient and sonicated for 3 cycles of 20 sec. DNA extraction was performed, and the parasites were genotyped by conventional PCR amplifying a region of the ß-giardin gene. A general prevalence of G. duodenalis of 13.2% was found, and of these genotyped samples, 13 (56.7%) and 7 (20%) corresponded to genotype A, 1 (4.3%), and 3 (25%) corresponded to genotype B, and 9 (39.1%) and 2 (16.7%) were not defined, in the municipalities Soledad and Galapa, respectively. Additionally, 23 children were diagnosed with symptomatologic giardiasis, and 12 were asymptomatic; the most relevant symptoms were abdominal pain (7, 20%) and diarrhea (13, 56.7%). The nutritional status of children with Giardia genotypes A and B were as follows: 3 in a state of malnutrition (10%), 10 normal (33.3%), and 6 overweight and obese (20%) with genotype A, and 1 in a state of malnutrition (3.3%) and 3 normal (10%) with genotype B. The genotypes found in G. duodenalis did not show an association with nutritional status or with the clinical manifestations evaluated in schoolchildren.

Risk and Protective Factors for Postoperative Complications in Elderly Patients With Colorectal Cancer.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate perioperative factors, including nutritional status and sarcopenia on short-term postoperative complications, determine the risk factors for postoperative complications, and clarify potential preoperative interventions and optimal surgical procedures to improve short-term outcomes in elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective, single-centre cohort study analysed the factors and short-term postoperative complications of CRC in a cohort of 101 patients aged ≥80 years who underwent radical resection between 2013 and 2020. Nutritional status was evaluated by calculating the controlling nutritional status. RESULTS: The median age was 83 years, and the frequency of sarcopenia was 39.6%. Short-term postoperative complications occurred in 24 patients. Risk factors for short-term postoperative complications in multivariate analysis were sarcopenia combined with nutritional disorders and open surgical approach. CONCLUSION: The status of nutrition and sarcopenia must be considered in order to predict and improve postoperative outcomes. If possible, a laparoscopic approach should be selected to prevent poor postoperative outcomes.

The impact of a poverty reduction intervention on infant brain activity.

Early childhood poverty is a risk factor for lower school achievement, reduced earnings, and poorer health, and has been associated with differences in brain structure and function. Whether poverty causes differences in neurodevelopment, or is merely associated with factors that cause such differences, remains unclear. Here, we report estimates of the causal impact of a poverty reduction intervention on brain activity in the first year of life. We draw data from a subsample of the Baby's First Years study, which recruited 1,000 diverse low-income mother-infant dyads. Shortly after giving birth, mothers were randomized to receive either a large or nominal monthly unconditional cash gift. Infant brain activity was assessed at approximately 1 y of age in the child's home, using resting electroencephalography (EEG; n = 435). We hypothesized that infants in the high-cash gift group would have greater EEG power in the mid- to high-frequency bands and reduced power in a low-frequency band compared with infants in the low-cash gift group. Indeed, infants in the high-cash gift group showed more power in high-frequency bands. Effect sizes were similar in magnitude to many scalable education interventions, although the significance of estimates varied with the analytic specification. In sum, using a rigorous randomized design, we provide evidence that giving monthly unconditional cash transfers to mothers experiencing poverty in the first year of their children's lives may change infant brain activity. Such changes reflect neuroplasticity and environmental adaptation and display a pattern that has been associated with the development of subsequent cognitive skills.

The effect of nutritional status on the pharmacokinetic profile of acetaminophen.

Nutritional imbalance (low protein / high fat) is a public health problem affecting many people in developing and developed nations. Such an imbalance will influence pathophysiological homeostasis in individuals and thereby considerably impact drug pharmacokinetics. It was reported that short-term fasting increases acetaminophen exposure in healthy subjects, whereas no effect was observed after a high-fat diet. These findings suggest the necessity of considering nutritional status when assessing the risk of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Additionally, the role of nutrition status on the pharmacokinetic profile of acetaminophen (APAP) at toxic doses is either scanty or not available. With this background, we aimed to compare the effects of nutrition status on the pharmacokinetic profile of APAP at a toxic dose in three different dietary regimens like - Normal diet (ND), Low protein diet (LPD), and High-fat diet (HFD). Balb/C female mice were divided into three groups after weaning, and for the next 15 weeks, they were fed with their respective diets (ND, LPD, and HFD). After that, mice were dosed with APAP (300 mg/kg p.o), and blood sampling was done at different time intervals and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 min to collect plasma samples. Plasma samples were analyzed using the HPLC method. Data analysis was done by Non-compartment analysis using Phoenix WinNonlin 8.3 software. LPD group shows higher values of Cmax, tmax, t1/2, and AUC0-4, AUC0-x values than ND and HFD groups. Both Cmax and AUC follow the pattern of drug exposure where LPD > ND > HFD. In conclusion, nutrition in the diet alters APAP pharmacokinetic profile at a toxic dose in three different diet regimes. Further study on CYP450 concentration and activity is essential to understand the pharmacokinetics difference between these dietary regimens.

Focus on Nutritional Aspects of Sarcopenia in Diabetes: Current Evidence and Remarks for Future Research.

Sarcopenia has been defined as a progressive and generalized loss of muscle mass that can be observed after the age of 40 years, with a rate of deterioration of about 8% every ten years up to 70 years, and 15-25% thereafter [...].

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.

Malnutrition on admission increases the in-hospital mortality and length of stay in elder adults with acute ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: Malnutrition, as determined by the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), has an effect on the 3-month and long-term prognosis of stroke patients. The association between malnutrition and in-hospital mortality has not been well established. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the CONUT score on admission and in-hospital mortality and length of stay (LOS) in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: This study analyzed controls and patients with AIS. Malnutrition was determined using the CONUT score. A CONUT score of 5-12 was defined as undernutrition status. Based on the CONUT scores, the patients were divided into the low CONUT (0-4) and high CONUT (5-12) groups. RESULTS: In total, 1079 participants were recruited, comprising 288 controls and 791 AIS patients. Among the 791 patients, 64 (8.1%) had malnutrition and 63 (7.9%) had an in-hospital death. Compared to the controls, the AIS patients presented higher CONUT scores, higher proportion of in-hospital mortality (8.0%), and longer length of stay. Malnutrition was independently associated with in-hospital mortality in the AIS patients (adjusted odds ratio: 3.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55-9.15; p = 0.003). The general linear models showed an association between the CONUT score and LOS (ß = 0.574, 95% CI: 0.208-0.934; p = 0.002). Furthermore, the effect of the interaction between infection and nutrition status on in-hospital mortality showed borderline statistical significance (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition estimated by the CONUT score on admission can be a predictor of in-hospital mortality and increased LOS in elderly AIS patients.

Assessment of physiological barriers to nutrition following critical illness.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nutrition may be important for recovery from critical illness. Gastrointestinal dysfunction is a key barrier to nutrition delivery in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and metabolic rate is elevated exacerbating nutritional deficits. Whether these factors persist following ICU discharge is unknown. We assessed whether delayed gastric emptying (GE) and impaired glucose absorption persist post-ICU discharge. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in mechanically ventilated adults at 3 time-points: in ICU (V1); on the post-ICU ward (V2); and 3-months after ICU discharge (V3); and compared to age-matched healthy volunteers. On each visit, all participants received a test-meal containing 100 ml of 1 kcal/ml liquid nutrient, labelled with 0.1 g 13C-octanoic acid and 3 g 3-O-Methyl-glucose (3-OMG), and breath and blood samples were collected over 240min to quantify GE (gastric emptying coefficient (GEC)), and glucose absorption (3-OMG concentration; area under the curve (AUC)). Data are mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) and differences shown with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: Twenty-six critically ill patients completed V1 (M:F 20:6; 62.0 ± 2.9 y; BMI 29.8 ± 1.2 kg/m2; APACHE II 19.7 ± 1.9), 15 completed V2 and eight completed V3; and were compared to 10 healthy volunteers (M:F 6:4; 60.5 ± 7.5 y; BMI 26.0 ± 1.0 kg/m2). GE was significantly slower on V1 compared to health (GEC difference: -0.96 (95%CI -1.61, -0.31); and compared to V2 (-0.73 (-1.16, -0.31) and V3 (-1.03 (-1.47, -0.59). GE at V2 and V3 were not different to that in health (V2: -0.23 (-0.61, 0.14); V3: 0.10 (-0.27, 0.46)). GEC: V1: 2.64 ± 0.19; V2: 3.37 ± 0.12; V3: 3.67 ± 0.10; health: 3.60 ± 0.13. Glucose absorption (3-OMG AUC0-240) was impaired on V1 compared to V2 (-37.9 (-64.2, -11.6)), and faster on V3 than in health (21.8 (0.14, 43.4) but absorption at V2 and V3 did not differ from health. Intestinal glucose absorption: V1: 63.8 ± 10.4; V2: 101.7 ± 7.0; V3: 111.9 ± 9.7; health: 90.7 ± 3.8. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that delayed GE and impaired intestinal glucose absorption recovers rapidly post-ICU. This requires further confirmation in a larger population. The REINSTATE trial was prospectively registered at www.anzctr.org.au. TRIAL ID: ACTRN12618000370202.

Food choice in transition: adolescent autonomy, agency, and the food environment.

Dietary intake during adolescence sets the foundation for a healthy life, but adolescents are diverse in their dietary patterns and in factors that influence food choice. More evidence to understand the key diet-related issues and the meaning and context of food choices for adolescents is needed to increase the potential for impactful actions. The aim of this second Series paper is to elevate the importance given to adolescent dietary intake and food choice, bringing a developmental perspective to inform policy and programmatic actions to improve diets. We describe patterns of dietary intake, then draw on existing literature to map how food choice can be influenced by unique features of adolescent development. Pooled qualitative data is then combined with evidence from the literature to explore ways in which adolescent development can interact with sociocultural context and the food environment to influence food choice. Irrespective of context, adolescents have a lot to say about why they eat what they eat, and insights into factors that might motivate them to change. Adolescents must be active partners in shaping local and global actions that support healthy eating patterns. Efforts to improve food environments and ultimately adolescent food choice should harness widely shared adolescent values beyond nutrition or health.

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.