José Enrique de la Rubia Ortí

Aceite de coco: tratamiento alternativo no farmacológico frente a la enfermedad de Alzheimer

BACKGROUND Alzheimers dementia is the most prevalent nowadays. As for treatment, there is no definitive cure drug, thus new therapies are needed. In this regard the medium chain triglycerides are a direct source of cellular energy and can be a nonpharmacological alternative to the neuronal death for lack of it, that occurs in Alzheimer patients. OBJECTIVE to evaluate the impact of coconut oil in the development of Alzheimers dementia, in any degree of dementia. Also determine whether this improvement influences within variables such as sex and suffering or not Type II Diabetes Mellitus. MATERIAL AND METHODS a prospective study was conducted in patients with Alzheimers dementia, with a control and an intervention group which was administered 40 ml/day of extra virgin coconut oil. The parameters evaluated were the mini test scores Lobo cognitive test, pre and post intervention in both groups. RESULTS it was observed in subjects taking the product, a statistically significant increase in test score MECWOLF and therefore an improvement in cognitive status, improving especially womens, those without diabetes mellitus type II, and severe patients. CONCLUSION this study, although preliminary, demonstrated the positive influence of coconut oil at the cognitive level of patients with Alzheimers, this improvement being dependent on sex, presence or absence of diabetes and degree of dementia.

LOS FACTORES RELACIONADOS CON LA MORTALIDAD EN PACIENTES CON DISFAGIA AYUDAN EN LA TOMA DE DECISIONES DIETÉTICAS Y NUTRICIONALES

OBJECTIVE To know what factors evaluated at the moment of admission are related with mortality among in-patients with dysphagia, during their stay in a longterm care hospital and may guide the dietary and nutritional intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS Retrospective, observational and descriptive cohort study over patients with dysphagia diagnosed by Volumen-Viscosity Clinical Exploration Method (VVCEM). Demographic and clinical variables were gathered, stay, mortality, when their dysphagia was re-evaluated and treatments. RESULTS 182 patients were included, medium age of 78 years old, 50% of them died. Following factors were significantly associate with death by univariant analysis: aged 85 or older, previous diagnosis of dysphagia, oncological disease, high co-morbidity (Charlson between 2-5 and > 5 points), low functionality before hospitalization (Barthel Index < 40), MNA < 17 points, albumen < 3 g/ dl, high score in CONUT (5-12 points), to be on opioids, neuroleptics, antidepressants while performing VVCEM, and the assistance aim when admission. Following factors had signification for risk to die by multi-variant analysis: age, oncological disease, co-morbidity and albumen, but taking antidepressants turned out to be a protective factor. Analysis of contrast was applied by curve ROC. The area under the curve was 0.740 and the confidence interval (CI) 0.668-0.811. CONCLUSIONS The above-mentioned information that may be evaluated in patients with dysphagia when admission, may help to define of more suitable and precocious form our welfare aims. In those cases with major risk of dying, it should prioritize comfort and safe swallowing. In those cases with low risk, in addition, should be effective improve to the maximum their nutritional condition.OBJECTIVE To know what factors evaluated at the moment of admission are related with mortality among in-patients with dysphagia, during their stay in a longterm care hospital and may guide the dietary and nutritional intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS Retrospective, observational and descriptive cohort study over patients with dysphagia diagnosed by Volumen-Viscosity Clinical Exploration Method (VVCEM). Demographic and clinical variables were gathered, stay, mortality, when their dysphagia was re-evaluated and treatments. RESULTS 182 patients were included, medium age of 78 years old, 50% of them died. Following factors were significantly associate with death by univariant analysis: aged 85 or older, previous diagnosis of dysphagia, oncological disease, high co-morbidity (Charlson between 2-5 and > 5 points), low functionality before hospitalization (Barthel Index < 40), MNA < 17 points, albumen < 3 g/ dl, high score in CONUT (5-12 points), to be on opioids, neuroleptics, antidepressants while performing VVCEM, and the assistance aim when admission. Following factors had signification for risk to die by multi-variant analysis: age, oncological disease, co-morbidity and albumen, but taking antidepressants turned out to be a protective factor. Analysis of contrast was applied by curve ROC. The area under the curve was 0.740 and the confidence interval (CI) 0.668-0.811. CONCLUSIONS The above-mentioned information that may be evaluated in patients with dysphagia when admission, may help to define of more suitable and precocious form our welfare aims. In those cases with major risk of dying, it should prioritize comfort and safe swallowing. In those cases with low risk, in addition, should be effective improve to the maximum their nutritional condition.

Influencia del aceite de coco en enfermos de alzhéimer a nivel cognitivo

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative dementia in developed world. This fact, coupled with the lack cure, makes new no pharmacological therapeutic strategies such as nutrient management to investigate. In this regard, it stresses the possible influence of coconut oil as alternative energy source capable of stopping the progressively neuronal death that occurs in this disease. Objectives: To assess the cognitive impact of coconut oil in Alzheimer’s patients, and specifically in orientation, language-building, fixing, calculation-concentration and memory areas. Methods: Prospective, longitudinal, qualitative, analytical and experimental study through a clinical trial where 44 patients with Alzheimer’s in region of Ribera (Valencia), of which half was selected to receive during 21 days, 40 ml coconut oil daily divided between breakfast (20 ml) and food (20 ml). Before and after administration of the oil, they were evaluated through cognitive test Mini-Mental State Examination to determine possible changes. Results: It was observed in patients who received coconut oil, that cognitive improvement after completion of the intervention, statistically significant improved in the orientation and language-construction areas. Conclusions: Coconut oil appears to improve cognitive abilities of Alzheimer’s patients, with different intensity depending on the cognitive area.

Modelos animales de adicción a las drogas

The development of animal models of drug reward and addiction is an essential factor for progress in understanding the biological basis of this disorder and for the identification of new therapeutic targets. Depending on the component of reward to be studied, one type of animal model or another may be used. There are models of reinforcement based on the primary hedonic effect produced by the consumption of the addictive substance, such as the self-administration (SA) and intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) paradigms, and there are models based on the component of reward related to associative learning and cognitive ability to make predictions about obtaining reward in the future, such as the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. In recent years these models have incorporated methodological modifications to study extinction, reinstatement and reconsolidation processes, or to model specific aspects of addictive behavior such as motivation to consume drugs, compulsive consumption or drug seeking under punishment situations. There are also models that link different reinforcement components or model voluntary motivation to consume (two-bottle choice, or drinking in the dark tests). In short, innovations in these models allow progress in scientific knowledge regarding the different aspects that lead individuals to consume a drug and develop compulsive consumption, providing a target for future treatments of addiction.