Diagnostic yield of capillary compared to venous glucose in the diagnosis of hypoglycorrhachia in children: A prospective, observational study.

INTRODUCTION: The ratio of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glucose and blood glucose is of major relevance, conducting to the diagnosis of hypoglycorrhachia, which is a sign of neuroinfection, as well as a number of neurological diseases of genetic or neoplastic etiology. Glucose in capillary sample (glucometry) is a low cost, readily available technique, as compared to venous glucose. This study aims to compare glucometry to venous glucose in the diagnosis of hypoglycorrhachia in pediatric population. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study based on data obtained from lumbar punctures in the period from February 2017 to January 2019 in a specialized pediatric institution in Colombia. RESULTS: 97 patients were analyzed, aged 1 month to 17 years old, mean 7.67 years, 52 (53.61%) were female. 26 (26.8%) were diagnosed with hypoglycorrhachia. Pearson correlation coefficient for absolute venous and capillary glucose was 0.54, and 0.55 for the ratios of CSF glucose/venous glucose and CSF glucose/glucometry, which support a linear correlation between the variables in both, absolute values and ratios. Intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated for both, the venous glucose and glucometry ratios, which was 0.52, revealing a moderate agreement among the tests. Sensitivity and specificity of CSF glucose/glucometry, as compared to gold standard are 73.1% and 60.6% respectively; whereas predictive positive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), were 40.4% and 86.0%. CONCLUSION: Glucometry cannot replace the glucose in venous sample in the diagnosis of hypoglycorrhachia in children.

Suplementos nutricionales como modificadores de morbimortalidad en pacientes con cáncer / Nutritional supplements as modifiers of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients

La caquexia, un síndrome multifactorial caracterizado por la pérdida de masa muscular con o sin pérdida de tejido adiposo que no puede ser revertido con soporte nutricional convencional, es frecuente en pacientes con enfermedades crónicas como cáncer, en quienes empeora notablemente su estado de salud. El objetivo de esta revisión fue estudiar el impacto que tienen los suplementos nutricionales en la morbimortalidad de los pacientes con caquexia secundaria a cáncer. Se realizó una búsqueda de literatura en las bases de datos Embase y Medline (Pubmed), sobre los suplementos y desenlaces clínicos en pacientes con caquexia secundaria a cáncer. Se excluyeron revisiones de literatura no sistemáticas, y aquellos que se centraran en otros desenlaces. Se seleccionaron 42 artículos, y se revisó su versión en texto completo. Se encontró que los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados aumentan el peso corporal; los antioxidantes podrían reducir la progresión del cáncer; selenio, zinc, hierro y cobre mejorarían el sistema inmunológico; y las proteínas y suplementos calóricos podrían reducir la lipólisis y proteólisis. Dentro de las limitaciones del estudio se encuentra la referencia a múltiples tipos de cáncer, con diferencias significativas en el tratamiento y el pronóstico de los pacientes. Se concluye que el soporte con suplementos nutricionales que contengan ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (EPA y DHA), micronutrientes (Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, vitamina E y C) y aminoácidos (l-arginina, l-glutamina, y b hidrometilbutirato), puede mejorar la morbimortalidad y por lo tanto la calidad de vida en pacientes con caquexia secundaria a cáncer(AU)

Cachexia, a multifactorial syndrome characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass with or without loss of fat mass that cannot be reversed by conventional nutrition support, is frequently present in patients with chronic diseases such as cancer, in whom the health status deteriorates markedly. The objective of this review was to study the impact of nutritional supplements on morbidity and mortality of patients with cachexia secondary to cancer. A literature search was conducted (Embase and Medline-Pubmed) looking for references that described associations between supplements and morbidity or mortality in patients with cachexia secondary to cancer. Non-systematic literature reviews, or studies with other non-clinical outcomes were excluded. A total of 42 articles were selected, and their full text version reviewed. We found that polyunsaturated fatty acids increase body weight; antioxidants reduce cancer progression; selenium, zinc, iron and copper improve the immune system and proteins and caloric supplements prevent lipolysis and proteolysis. Within the limitations of the study is the reference to multiple types of cancer, which in themselves present significant differences in treatment and prognosis of patients. As a conclusion, nutritional support with nutritional supplements containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA-DHA), micronutrients (Zn, Se, Cu, Fe, vitamins C and E) and amino acids (l-arginine, l-glutamine and b hidroxymethylbutyrate), can improve morbimortality and therefore quality of life in patients with cachexia secondary to cancer(AU)