N-3 fatty acids, cancer and cachexia: a systematic review of the literature.

Use of n-3 fatty acids (FA) has been reported to be beneficial for cancer patients. We performed a systematic review of the literature in order to issue recommendations on the clinical use of n-3 FA in the cancer setting. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and Healthstar databases. We selected clinical trials or prospective observational studies including patients with cancer and life expectancy >2 months, in which enteral supplements with n-3 FA were administered. Parameters evaluated individually were clinical (nutritional status, tolerance, survival and hospital stays), biochemical (inflammatory mediators), and functional (functional status, appetite and quality of life (QoL)). Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria; eight were of high quality. The panel of experts established the following evidence: (1) oral supplements with n-3 FA benefit patients with advanced cancer and weight loss, and are indicated in tumours of the upper digestive tract and pancreas; (2) the advantages observed were: increased weight and appetite, improved QoL, and reduced post-surgical morbidity; (3) there is no defined pattern for combining different n-3 FA, and it is recommended to administer > 1.5 g/day; and (4) better tolerance is obtained administering low-fat formulas for a period of at least 8 weeks. All the evidences were grade B but for 'length of treatment' and 'advantage of survival' it was grade C. Our findings suggest that administration of n-3 FA (EPA and DHA) in doses of at least 1.5 g/day for a prolonged period of time to patients with advanced cancer is associated with an improvement in clinical, biological and QoL parameters.

Glycemic and lipid control in hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients: evaluation of 2 enteral nutrition formulas (low carbohydrate-high monounsaturated fat vs high carbohydrate).

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetic patients may need enteral nutrition support as part of their treatment. The objective was to compare glycemic and lipid control in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes requiring feeding via nasogastric tube using enteral feedings with either a highcarbohydrate or a high-monounsaturated-fat content. METHODS: This trial included type 2 diabetes patients admitted to the hospital for neurologic disorders or head and neck cancer surgery who received either a low-carbohydrate-high-mono-unsaturated-fat (Glucerna) or a high-carbohydrate diet (Precitene Diabet). Glycemic and lipid control was determined weekly. Safety and gastrointestinal tolerance were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were randomized and 63 were evaluable according to preestablished protocol criteria. Median duration of therapy was 13 days in both groups. Mean glucose was significantly increased at 7 days of treatment (p = .006) in the Precitene arm, with no significant variations in the Glucerna arm. Mean weekly blood triglycerides levels in the Precitene arm were increased without reaching statistical significance, whereas patients in the Glucerna arm showed a stable trend. Patients in the Precitene arm showed a significantly higher incidence of diarrhea than patients in Glucerna arm (p = .008), whereas the incidence of nausea was smaller in the Precitene arm than in the Glucerna arm (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: An enteral formula with lower carbohydrate and higher monounsaturated fat (Glucerna) has a neutral effect on glycemic control and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic patients compared with a high-carbohydrate and a lower-fat formula (Precitene Diabet).

Dynamics of HIV replication in lymphocytes and the efficacy of protease inhibitors.

Using a system that allows transfection of resting peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) two questions were addressed: the kinetics of HIV replication from the state of proviral latency, and the impact of different parameters on the efficacy of protease inhibitors to control HIV replication. PBLs were transfected with an infectious full length HIV-DNA harboring a luciferase reporter gene and activated thereafter. Ritonavir was added at different times at doses ranging from to 0.06 to 1 microM. Viral expression was assessed by quantifying luciferase activity in cell extracts and levels of p24 HIV antigen in culture supernatants. After transfection and cell activation, intracellular expression of HIV proteins, as assessed by luciferase detection, occurred within 2 hr. HIV-gag p24 antigen was detected in culture supernatants between 6 and 8 hr post-activation. Ritonavir was effective in blocking viral replication when given within 4 hr following HIV reactivation, but a delay in ritonavir administration or breaches in ritonavir levels after 6 hr from transfection resulted in viral escape. HIV reactivation from proviral latency in PBLs is an extremely rapid process, faster than estimated from previous models. These data stress the need for maintaining effective antiretroviral concentrations to block completely viral replication.

Intervention at lower blood pressure levels to achieve target goals in type 2 diabetes: PRADID (PResión Arterial en DIabéticos tipo Dos) study.

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, renal insufficiency, and retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological studies all document a reduced risk for the aforementioned consequences at a blood pressure (BP) lower than 130/80 mmHg. For this reason, lower target BPs are recommended by recent guidelines committees. A lower threshold BP for treatment, also proposed in guidelines, could facilitate the attainment of the recommended target BP. However, little data exist on the efficacy and safety of starting pharmacological therapy in type 2 diabetic patients exhibiting high-normal BP (HNBP) or the first stage of isolated systolic hypertension previously considered as borderline isolated systolic hypertension (BISH). OBJECTIVE: To determine the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of the fixed-dose combination of the non-dihydropiridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) and ACE inhibitor verapamil SR/trandolapril 180/2 mg (V + T), versus trandolapril 2 mg (T), versus placebo (P) in previously untreated type 2 diabetic patients diagnosed as having HNBP or BISH. METHODS: Multicentric, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with a 16-week follow-up in three groups totalling 438 participants. The primary end-point was to attain the recommended guideline goal of a systolic BP (SBP) value lower than 130 mmHg in all patients and a diastolic BP (DBP) value lower than 85 mmHg in HNBP. Participants were randomized (2:2:1) to verapamil V + T, T, or P. Doses were doubled at week 8 if BP was not controlled. RESULTS: Both active groups were more effective than placebo to decrease SBP and DBP. The mean difference in SBP from placebo was 7.1 mmHg (3.3-10.9, 95% confidence interval (CI); P < 0.001) for T and 7.8 mmHg (3.9-11.6, 95% CI; P < 0.001) for V + T, with no statistical difference between both active groups. Combined treatment (V + T) decreased DBP by 4.6 mmHg (2.3-6.9, 95% CI; P < 0.001) more than placebo and 2.1 mmHg (0.3-4.0, 95% CI; P = 0.021) more than T. At the end of the study, 36.5% in the T group, 37.8% in the V + T group, and 14.9% (P = 0.009, P versus V + T and T) had attained the primary end-point. No significant difference was found between T and V + T with regard to the percentage of good control for SBP, but the control rate on the DBP (DBP < 85 mmHg) was significantly higher in the V + T group (88.8%), when compared with T (79.1%) or P (63.5%) (P = 0.002). Withdrawal rates due to adverse effects did not differ among trandolapril alone (9.4%), the combination (11.7%) and placebo (8.1%). CONCLUSION: Antihypertensive treatment is more effective than placebo for controlling SBP and DBP in previously untreated participants with type 2 diabetes exhibiting low threshold BP values. Combination therapy with verapamil SR/trandolapril was more effective than trandolapril alone for controlling DBP.

Clinical evidence for enteral nutritional support with glutamine: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review was to locate and assess the quality of scientific evidence to establish a graded recommendation based on the effectiveness of glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in different medical and surgical conditions. We were concerned with the following topics: 1) benefits of enteral administration of glutamine in different pathologic conditions, and 2) dose, duration, and time of initiation of glutamine-enriched diets. METHODS: The sources consulted for the search were MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Healthstar and HSTAT. Ninety-one studies were assessed; after a methodologic review (primary review), only 16 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis by a group of experts (secondary review). The coordinators supervised all data, and a final consensus was reached among the coordinators, experts, and methodologists. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Glutamine-enriched diets showed good overall tolerance, improvement of immunologic aspects in multiple trauma patients, cost reduction in critically ill patients, and improvement of mucositis in post-chemotherapy patients (grade B recommendations). The doses given and the duration of therapy varied widely depending on the pathologic condition. Intake of 20 to 30 g/d, early initiation of diet, and maintenance for 5 d or longer are recommended (grade C recommendations).

Prevalence of decubitus ulcer and associated risk factors in an institutionalized Spanish elderly population.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence and associated risk factors of decubitus ulcer in an institutionalized Spanish elderly population. METHODS: A 1 d cross-sectional study in 50 Spanish geriatric facilities was carried out. Data collection included age, sex, body mass index, presence of decubitus ulcer, duration of ulcer, days of hospitalization, risk according to the Norton scale, associated risk factors, and nutrition status evaluation including assessment according to the Nutrition Screening Initiative. Logistic regression analysis calculated prevalence and association with risk factors. RESULTS: Data from 827 elderly people (71.3% female) were collected. Mean age (+/- standard deviation) was 82.4 (+/-8.0) y. Decubitus ulcer prevalence was 35.7%, with no sex differences (34.1% males and 37.2% females). Body mass index was inversely associated with ulcer prevalence in a statistically significant way (odds ratio = 0.94, 95% confidence interval = 0.92-0.97), but the following were risk factors: age (1.03, 1.01-1.06), previous ulcer (3.09, 2.16-4.04), diabetes (1.54, 1.02-2.51), functionality (2.91, 2.05-4.12), immobility (8.30, 5.09-11.51), erythema (12.12, 7.46-16.78), dehydration (2.09, 1.31-2.87), and edema (2.35, 1.64-3.06). Subjective evaluation of nutrition status and nutrition status as assessed by the Nutrition Screening Initiative Determine scale (modified) showed a significant linear association with ulcer (P < 0.001), and a score above 14 points in the modified Norton scale was associated with a lower ulcer rate (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of decubitus ulcer in the Spanish elderly population increased with age, poor nutrition status, immobilization, and impaired functionality.