Innate Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment of Liver Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer: Contribution to a Comprehensive Therapy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent type of cancer, and liver metastasis is the most common site of metastatic development. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), various innate immune cells are known to influence cancer progression and metastasis occurrence. CD274 (PD-L1) and CD206 (MRC1) are proteins that have been associated with poor prognosis and disease progression. We conducted a study on tumoral and non-tumoral biopsies from 47 patients with CRC liver metastasis, using flow cytometry to phenotypically characterize innate immune cells. Our findings showed an increase in the expression of CD274 on classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes when comparing tumor with non-tumor samples. Furthermore, tumor samples with a desmoplastic growth pattern exhibited a significantly decreased percentage of CD274- and CD206-positive cells in all monocyte populations compared to non-desmoplastic samples. We found a correlation between a lower expression of CD206 or CD274 on classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes and increased disease-free survival, which points to a better prognosis for these patients. In conclusion, our study has identified potential new targets and biomarkers that could be incorporated into a personalized medicine approach to enhance the outcome for colorectal cancer patients.

Extensive Phenotypic Characterization of T Cells Infiltrating Liver Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer: A Potential Role in Precision Medicine.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with liver metastasis being its main cause of death. This study harvested fresh biological material from non-tumor and tumor tissue from 47 patients with CRC liver metastasis after surgery, followed by mechanical cellular extraction and stain-lyse-wash direct immunofluorescence technique. Here, 60 different T-cell populations were characterized by flow cytometry. Tumor samples were also subdivided according to their growth pattern into desmoplastic and non-desmoplastic. When we compared tumor versus non-tumor samples, we observed a significantly lower percentage of T-lymphocyte infiltration in the tumor in which the CD4+ T-cell density increased compared to the CD8+ T cells. T regulatory cells also increased within the tumor, even with an activated phenotype (HLA-DR+). A higher percentage of IL-17-producing cells was present in tumor samples and correlated with the metastasis size. In contrast, we also observed a significant increase in CD8+ follicular-like T cells (CD185+), suggesting a cytotoxic response to cancer cells. Additionally, most infiltrated T cells exhibit an intermediate activation phenotype (CD25+). In conclusion, our results revealed potential new targets and prognostic biomarkers that could take part in an algorithm for personalized medicine approaches improving CRC patients' outcomes.

[Availability of inputs for reproductive planning in three cycles of the Program for Improvement of Access and Quality in Basic Healthcare: 2012, 2014, and 2018]. / Disponibilidade de insumos para o planejamento reprodutivo nos três ciclos do Programa de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica: 2012, 2014 e 2018.

The objective was to assess the availability of inputs for reproductive planning in basic healthcare units (UBS in Portuguese) that participated in the National Program for Improvement of Access and Quality of Basic Care (PMAQ-AB) and their distribution according to contextual factors. A comparative study was conducted of the three cycles of the PMAQ-AB (2012, 2014, and 2018). The study assessed the availability in the UBS of ethynyl-estradiol + levonorgestrel, norethisterone, norethisterone + estradiol, levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, male and female condoms, IUDs, and rapid pregnancy tests. The study considered the availability and presence of all the inputs. Availability was assessed according to contextual factors in the city where the UBS was located. Availability of total inputs increased from 1.5% to 10.9%. In all the cycles, ethynyl-estradiol + levonorgestrel and male condoms showed the highest availability, and IUDs the lowest. Individual input´s availability also increased, with the highest increase of 36p.p. for female condoms, rapid pregnancy tests, and norethisterone + estradiol and the lowest of 15p.p. for ethynyl-estradiol + levonorgestrel, norethisterone, and IUDs. The North of Brazil showed the worst results. The largest increases were in the UBS in the municipalities with the lowest HDI and in those that participated in all the cycles of the PMAQ. Condoms are the only widely available inputs, and it is important to expand the availability of the other inputs, mainly IUDs and rapid pregnancy tests. The period under study experienced the promotion of equity, but regional inequalities need to be overcome. It is essential to monitor the inputs´ availability in order to improve reproductive planning.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a disponibilidade de insumos para o planejamento reprodutivo em unidades básicas de saúde (UBS) que aderiram ao Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica (PMAQ-AB), e sua distribuição segundo fatores contextuais. Estudo de comparação dos três ciclos do PMAQ-AB (2012, 2014 e 2018). Foi avaliada a disponibilidade física na UBS de etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel, noretisterona, noretisterona + estradiol, levonorgestrel, medroxiprogesterona, preservativos masculino e feminino, DIU e teste rápido de gravidez. Considerou-se disponibilidade adequada a presença de todos os insumos. A disponibilidade foi avaliada segundo fatores contextuais do município sede da UBS. A disponibilidade de todos os insumos aumentou de 1,5% para 10,9%. Em todos os ciclos avaliados, etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel e preservativo masculino apresentaram a maior disponibilidade e DIU a menor. A disponibilidade de cada insumo também aumentou, sendo o maior aumento de 36p.p. para preservativo feminino, teste rápido de gravidez e noretisterona + estradiol, e o menor de 15p.p. para etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel, noretisterona e DIU. A Região Norte apresentou os piores resultados. Os maiores incrementos foram nas UBS de municípios com o menor IDH e nas que aderiram a todos os ciclos do PMAQ. Somente os preservativos estão amplamente disponíveis, é importante ampliar a disponibilidade dos demais insumos, principalmente de DIU e teste rápido de gravidez. Houve promoção de equidade no período, mas é preciso superar as desigualdades regionais. É fundamental monitorar a disponibilidade dos insumos para qualificar o planejamento reprodutivo.

El objetivo fue evaluar la disponibilidad de métodos contraceptivos para la planificación reproductiva en unidades básicas de salud (UBS), que se adhirieron al Programa Nacional de Mejoría de Acceso y Calidad de la Atención Básica (PMAQ-AB), así como a su distribución según factores contextuales. Se realizó un estudio comparativo de los tres ciclos del PMAQ-AB (2012, 2014 y 2018). Se evaluó la disponibilidad física en la UBS de etinilestradiol+levonorgestrel, noretisterona, noretisterona+estradiol, levonorgestrel, medroxiprogesterona, preservativo masculino y femenino, DIU y test rápido de embarazo. Se consideró la disponibilidad adecuada, así como la presencia de todos los métodos contraceptivos. La disponibilidad se evaluó según factores contextuales del municipio sede de la UBS. La disponibilidad de todos los métodos aumentó de 1,5% a 10,9%. En todos los ciclos evaluados etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel, así como el preservativo masculino, presentaron la mayor disponibilidad y DIU la menor. La disponibilidad de cada uno de ellos también aumentó, siendo que el mayor aumento de 36p.p. se produjo en el preservativo femenino, test rápido de embarazo y noretisterona + estradiol y el menor de 15p.p. en el etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel, noretisterona y DIU. La región Norte presentó los peores resultados. Los mayores incrementos fueron en las UBS de municipios con menor IDH y en las que se adhirieron a todos los ciclos del PMAQ. Solamente los preservativos están ampliamente disponibles, es importante ampliar la disponibilidad de los demás métodos contraceptivos, principalmente DIU y test rápido de embarazo. Existió promoción de la equidad durante el período, pero es necesario superar desigualdades regionales. Es fundamental supervisar la disponibilidad de los métodos contraceptivos para mejorar la planificación reproductiva.

Necrotising fasciitis of the thoracic wall: a rare case with favourable outcome.

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is a severe infection of the subcutaneous tissue and fascia that can rapidly lead to sepsis and shock with high mortality rates. Its initial signs are often non-specific making it difficult for an early diagnosis to be reached. Nevertheless it is of the utmost importance to begin proper treatment including wide surgical debridement as soon as possible in order to avoid death. We present the case of a patient with NF of the thoracic wall which is a rare location for this disease but often associated with worse prognosis. Even though he progressed to septic shock within less than 24 hours of its presentation, due to early surgical management, aggressive resuscitation and intensive care support, he reached a favourable outcome. After three surgical revisions and 2 weeks in an intensive care unit, the patient was discharged from hospital 35 days after admission.

Disponibilidade de insumos para o planejamento reprodutivo nos três ciclos do Programa de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica: 2012, 2014 e 2018 / Availability of inputs for reproductive planning in three cycles of the Program for Improvement of Access and Quality in Basic Healthcare: 2012, 2014, and 2018 / Disponibilidad de métodos contraceptivos para la planificación reproductiva en los tres ciclos del Programa de Mejora del Acceso y de la Calidad en la Atención Básica: 2012, 2014 y 2018

Resumo: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a disponibilidade de insumos para o planejamento reprodutivo em unidades básicas de saúde (UBS) que aderiram ao Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica (PMAQ-AB), e sua distribuição segundo fatores contextuais. Estudo de comparação dos três ciclos do PMAQ-AB (2012, 2014 e 2018). Foi avaliada a disponibilidade física na UBS de etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel, noretisterona, noretisterona + estradiol, levonorgestrel, medroxiprogesterona, preservativos masculino e feminino, DIU e teste rápido de gravidez. Considerou-se disponibilidade adequada a presença de todos os insumos. A disponibilidade foi avaliada segundo fatores contextuais do município sede da UBS. A disponibilidade de todos os insumos aumentou de 1,5% para 10,9%. Em todos os ciclos avaliados, etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel e preservativo masculino apresentaram a maior disponibilidade e DIU a menor. A disponibilidade de cada insumo também aumentou, sendo o maior aumento de 36p.p. para preservativo feminino, teste rápido de gravidez e noretisterona + estradiol, e o menor de 15p.p. para etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel, noretisterona e DIU. A Região Norte apresentou os piores resultados. Os maiores incrementos foram nas UBS de municípios com o menor IDH e nas que aderiram a todos os ciclos do PMAQ. Somente os preservativos estão amplamente disponíveis, é importante ampliar a disponibilidade dos demais insumos, principalmente de DIU e teste rápido de gravidez. Houve promoção de equidade no período, mas é preciso superar as desigualdades regionais. É fundamental monitorar a disponibilidade dos insumos para qualificar o planejamento reprodutivo.

Abstract: The objective was to assess the availability of inputs for reproductive planning in basic healthcare units (UBS in Portuguese) that participated in the National Program for Improvement of Access and Quality of Basic Care (PMAQ-AB) and their distribution according to contextual factors. A comparative study was conducted of the three cycles of the PMAQ-AB (2012, 2014, and 2018). The study assessed the availability in the UBS of ethynyl-estradiol + levonorgestrel, norethisterone, norethisterone + estradiol, levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, male and female condoms, IUDs, and rapid pregnancy tests. The study considered the availability and presence of all the inputs. Availability was assessed according to contextual factors in the city where the UBS was located. Availability of total inputs increased from 1.5% to 10.9%. In all the cycles, ethynyl-estradiol + levonorgestrel and male condoms showed the highest availability, and IUDs the lowest. Individual input´s availability also increased, with the highest increase of 36p.p. for female condoms, rapid pregnancy tests, and norethisterone + estradiol and the lowest of 15p.p. for ethynyl-estradiol + levonorgestrel, norethisterone, and IUDs. The North of Brazil showed the worst results. The largest increases were in the UBS in the municipalities with the lowest HDI and in those that participated in all the cycles of the PMAQ. Condoms are the only widely available inputs, and it is important to expand the availability of the other inputs, mainly IUDs and rapid pregnancy tests. The period under study experienced the promotion of equity, but regional inequalities need to be overcome. It is essential to monitor the inputs´ availability in order to improve reproductive planning.

Resumen: El objetivo fue evaluar la disponibilidad de métodos contraceptivos para la planificación reproductiva en unidades básicas de salud (UBS), que se adhirieron al Programa Nacional de Mejoría de Acceso y Calidad de la Atención Básica (PMAQ-AB), así como a su distribución según factores contextuales. Se realizó un estudio comparativo de los tres ciclos del PMAQ-AB (2012, 2014 y 2018). Se evaluó la disponibilidad física en la UBS de etinilestradiol+levonorgestrel, noretisterona, noretisterona+estradiol, levonorgestrel, medroxiprogesterona, preservativo masculino y femenino, DIU y test rápido de embarazo. Se consideró la disponibilidad adecuada, así como la presencia de todos los métodos contraceptivos. La disponibilidad se evaluó según factores contextuales del municipio sede de la UBS. La disponibilidad de todos los métodos aumentó de 1,5% a 10,9%. En todos los ciclos evaluados etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel, así como el preservativo masculino, presentaron la mayor disponibilidad y DIU la menor. La disponibilidad de cada uno de ellos también aumentó, siendo que el mayor aumento de 36p.p. se produjo en el preservativo femenino, test rápido de embarazo y noretisterona + estradiol y el menor de 15p.p. en el etinilestradiol + levonorgestrel, noretisterona y DIU. La región Norte presentó los peores resultados. Los mayores incrementos fueron en las UBS de municipios con menor IDH y en las que se adhirieron a todos los ciclos del PMAQ. Solamente los preservativos están ampliamente disponibles, es importante ampliar la disponibilidad de los demás métodos contraceptivos, principalmente DIU y test rápido de embarazo. Existió promoción de la equidad durante el período, pero es necesario superar desigualdades regionales. Es fundamental supervisar la disponibilidad de los métodos contraceptivos para mejorar la planificación reproductiva.

Current and novel therapeutic opportunities for systemic therapy in biliary cancer.

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a group of rare and aggressive malignancies that arise in the biliary tree within and outside the liver. Beyond surgical resection, which is beneficial for only a small proportion of patients, current strategies for treating patients with BTCs include chemotherapy, as a single agent or combination regimens, in the adjuvant and palliative setting. Increased characterisation of the molecular landscape of these tumours has facilitated the identification of molecular vulnerabilities, such as IDH mutations and FGFR fusions, that can be exploited for the treatment of BTC patients. Beyond targeted therapies, active research avenues explore the development of novel therapeutics that target the crosstalk between cancer and stroma, the cellular pathways involved in the regulation of cell death, the chemoresistance phenotype and the dysregulation of RNA. In this review, we discuss the therapeutic opportunities currently available in the management of BTC patients, and explore the strategies that can support the implementation of precision oncology in BTCs, including novel molecular targets, liquid biopsies and patient-derived predictive tools.

Health self-perception and morbidities, and their relation with rural work in southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Self-assessment of health status can be considered a good predictor of population morbidity and mortality. Sociodemographic, environmental and health conditions can influence health self-perception. However, in rural areas, the identification of morbidities that affect workers' health and their general health condition is unknown. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between health self-perception and the occurrence of morbidities according to type of work. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, population-based study of a rural area of Brazil. Health self-perception outcomes were classified as good (very good or good) or not good (fair, poor or very poor). Rural work, classified as yes or no, was considered to be the exposure. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression analyses were performed, obtaining prevalence ratio (PR) estimates and the respective confidence intervals (95%CI). All analyses were stratified by sex and adjusted for confounding factors. RESULTS: The sample comprised 893 individuals. The not good health self-perception prevalence was 27.6%, with a significant difference between the sexes (24.2% of men v 32.5% of women, p=0.014). Although associated with rural work in the crude model, self-perception was not associated with type of work after adjustment (PR: 1.02, 95%CI: 0.83-1.27). The risk of developing obesity (PR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.47-0.91) and cardiovascular diseases (PR: 0.32, 95%CI: 0.12-0.87) was lower in men who developed rural activities. Also, women who reported doing rural work presented a lower risk for respiratory diseases (PR: 0.47; 95%CI: 0.22-0.97). CONCLUSION: The association between rural work and not good health self-perception, cardiovascular disease and obesity in women, and respiratory diseases in men seems to be highly dependent on sociodemographic context.

Maternal depression symptoms and use of child health-care services at The Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of maternal depression on child health-care services utilization. METHODOLOGY: Data from The Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort collected at birth and at 12- and 24-month follow-ups were used. Four outcomes occurring in the second year of life were investigated: number of well-baby visits, number of medical appointments, number of visits to emergency rooms, and number of hospitalizations. The main exposure was maternal depression symptoms at 12-month post-partum as assessed by the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by Poisson regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of mothers with depressive symptoms was 27.6% (95% CI: 26.2-29.0%). These mothers showed a 10% lower probability of taking their children to well-baby visits (0.90; 0.85-0.95; p = 0.001); 16% higher probability to seek medical consultations (1.16; 1.09-1.25, p = 0.001); and they sought emergency services for their children more often (1.30; 1.17-1.45, p < 0.001) as compared to mothers who did not present depressive symptoms. Although the PR for hospitalizations was 26% higher for children from mothers with depressive symptoms, the association did not achieve statistical significance (1.26; 0.98-1.63; p = 0.072). CONCLUSION: Children from mothers with depressive symptoms attend fewer number of preventive consultations. In contrast, they are taken to medical and emergency care more often, suggesting that these children are given healthcare when they are at more advanced stages of their illnesses.

Population-based study in a rural area: methodology and challenges.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the planning, sampling, operational aspects of the field, and the sample obtained during a research conducted in a rural area, specifying and discussing the main logistical difficulties unique to these places and the solutions adopted. METHODS: We carried out a population-based, cross-sectional survey between January and June 2016, with a representative sample of the population aged 18 years or over living in the rural area of Pelotas (approximately 22,000 individuals), State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We collected demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related information, such as alcohol consumption, cigarette consumption, depressive symptoms, quality of diet, quality of life, physical activity, satisfaction with the health unit, overweight or obesity, and sleep problems. RESULTS: In the 720 domiciles sampled, 1,697 individuals were identified and 1,519 were interviewed (89.5%). The study initially drew 24 census tracts and proposed the visit to 42 households per tract; however, we need to adjust the method, such as decreasing the number of households per census tract (from 42 to 30) and identifying housing centers in each tract. The main reasons for these changes were difficulty accessing the area, large distances between households, misconceptions in the satellite data available (which did not fit the reality), and high cost of the field work. CONCLUSIONS: The previous detailed recognition of the research environment was crucial for decision making as the maps and territory had geographical inconsistencies. The strategies and techniques used in studies for the urban area are not applicable to the rural area given the outcomes observed in Pelotas. The decisions taken, keeping the methodological rigor, were essential to ensure the timely execution of the study with the financial resources available.

Lifelong robbery victimisation and mental disorders at age 18 years: Brazilian population-based study.

PURPOSE: Urban violence is a major problem in Brazil and may contribute to mental disorders among victims. The aim of this study was to assess the association between robbery victimisation and mental health disorders in late adolescence. METHODS: At age 18 years, 4106 participants in the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study were assessed. A questionnaire about history of robbery victimisation was administered, the Self-Report Questionnaire was used to screen for common mental disorders, and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to assess major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. Cross-sectional prevalence ratios between lifetime robbery victimisation and mental disorders were estimated using Poisson regression with robust standard errors, adjusting for socioeconomic variables measured at birth and violence in the home and maltreatment measured at age 15. RESULTS: There was a dose-response relationship between frequency of lifetime robberies and risk of mental disorders. Adolescents who had been robbed three or more times had twice the risk (PR 2.04; 95% CI 1.64-2.56) for common mental disorders, over four times the risk for depression (PR 4.59; 95% CI 2.60-8.12), and twice the risk for anxiety (PR 1.93; 95% CI 1.06-3.50), compared with non-victims, adjusting for covariates. Experiencing frequent robberies had greater impact on common mental disorders than experiencing an armed robbery. Population attributable fractions with regard to robbery were 9% for common mental disorders, 13% for depression, and 8% for anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Robberies are associated with common mental disorders in late adolescence, independently of violence between family members. Reducing urban violence could significantly help in preventing common mental illnesses.

Population-based study in a rural area: methodology and challenges / Estudo de base populacional na zona rural: metodologia e desafios

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the planning, sampling, operational aspects of the field, and the sample obtained during a research conducted in a rural area, specifying and discussing the main logistical difficulties unique to these places and the solutions adopted. METHODS We carried out a population-based, cross-sectional survey between January and June 2016, with a representative sample of the population aged 18 years or over living in the rural area of Pelotas (approximately 22,000 individuals), State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We collected demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related information, such as alcohol consumption, cigarette consumption, depressive symptoms, quality of diet, quality of life, physical activity, satisfaction with the health unit, overweight or obesity, and sleep problems. RESULTS In the 720 domiciles sampled, 1,697 individuals were identified and 1,519 were interviewed (89.5%). The study initially drew 24 census tracts and proposed the visit to 42 households per tract; however, we need to adjust the method, such as decreasing the number of households per census tract (from 42 to 30) and identifying housing centers in each tract. The main reasons for these changes were difficulty accessing the area, large distances between households, misconceptions in the satellite data available (which did not fit the reality), and high cost of the field work. CONCLUSIONS The previous detailed recognition of the research environment was crucial for decision making as the maps and territory had geographical inconsistencies. The strategies and techniques used in studies for the urban area are not applicable to the rural area given the outcomes observed in Pelotas. The decisions taken, keeping the methodological rigor, were essential to ensure the timely execution of the study with the financial resources available.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Descrever o planejamento, a amostragem, os aspectos operacionais do campo e a amostra obtida durante pesquisa realizada na zona rural, especificando e discutindo as principais dificuldades logísticas peculiares a esses locais e as soluções adotadas. MÉTODOS Entre janeiro e junho de 2016, foi realizado inquérito transversal de base populacional, com amostra representativa da população com 18 anos de idade ou mais residente na zona rural de Pelotas (cerca de 22 mil), RS, Brasil. Foram coletadas informações demográficas, socioeconômicas e relacionadas à saúde, como consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, consumo de cigarros, sintomas depressivos, qualidade da alimentação, qualidade de vida, atividade física, satisfação com a unidade de saúde, excesso de peso ou obesidade e problemas do sono. RESULTADOS Em 720 domicílios amostrados, 1.697 indivíduos foram identificados e 1.519 foram entrevistados (89,5%). O estudo, inicialmente, sorteou 24 setores e propôs-se a visitar 42 domicílios/setor, mas foram necessárias adequações metodológicas, especialmente a redução do número de domicílios por setor (de 42 para 30) e a identificação de núcleos habitacionais nos setores. As principais razões para as adequações foram dificuldade de acesso aos locais, grandes distâncias entre residências, equívocos nos dados geográficos disponíveis via satélite (não condiziam com a realidade) e alto custo. CONCLUSÕES O prévio reconhecimento detalhado do ambiente de pesquisa foi fundamental para a tomada de decisão perante às inconsistências geográficas entre mapas e território. As estratégias e técnicas dos estudos na zona urbana não são aplicáveis à zona rural no que tange ao contexto observado em Pelotas. As medidas adotadas, mantendo o rigor metodológico, foram fundamentais para garantir a execução do estudo no tempo planejado e com os recursos financeiros disponíveis.

Survey on the current practice of nutritional therapy in Portugal.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This survey aimed to provide a nationwide overview about the current practice of nutrition. METHODS: Questionnaires designed by the Portuguese Association of Parenteral Enteral Nutrition were sent, with postage-paid addressee envelopes, to all hospitals and primary-care institutions. RESULTS: Hospitals' response rate was 44/100 (44%), reaching 274/359 (60%) in primary care, P=0.02. A Nutrition Support Team (NST) was reported in 34% hospitals, 40% of which were teaching hospitals. In 3/15 (9%) hospitals, NST nutrition prescriptions covered the whole hospital population; in 16% the NST only acted on a consultant basis; in 30% they were involved in purchasing nutrition products and in 18% the NST promoted teaching/training. Physicians alone prescribed oral, enteral and parenteral nutrition in 50%, 64% and 74% hospitals, respectively, and also monitored parenteral nutrition in 69% hospitals; monitoring oral/enteral nutrition involved dietitians in 46% and 41% hospitals, respectively; nurses were never involved in NSTs and seldom participated in nutritional management. Most primary-care institutions with hospital units (91%) provided nutrition therapy and nurses were then the most involved professionals, P=0.001, even prescribing regimens while physicians favoured monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition therapy is mostly unidisciplinary; the concept of a NST and its roles is wrongly perceived; education and training are eagerly awaited.