Juan Pablo Barrio

Melatonin prevents oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant enzyme expression and activity in the liver of aging rats

Abstract:  This study compared the effects of melatonin supplementation on markers of oxidative stress, and on the activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes in the liver of young (3‐month‐old) and aging (24‐month‐old) rats. Animals were supplemented with melatonin in the drinking water (20 mg/L) for 4 wk. Liver concentration of thiobarbituric‐reactive substances (TBARS), as an index of lipid peroxidation, and the oxidized to reduced glutathione ratio significantly increased in aged rats (+58%), while values did not significantly differ from the young in aged animals receiving melatonin. Significant decreases in the liver activities of Cu,Zn‐superoxide dismutase (SOD) (−25%), cytosolic (−21%) and mitochondrial (−40%) glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) (−34%) were found in aged rats. Melatonin abolished these changes and also prevented the reduction of Cu,Zn‐SOD (−33%), cytosolic GPx (−30%), and mitochondrial GPx (−47%) liver protein content as measured by Western blot. Reductions in Cu,Zn‐SOD mRNA (−39%), and GPx mRNA (−86%) levels induced by aging were also abolished by melatonin. In summary, our data indicate that melatonin treatment abrogates oxidative stress in the liver of aged rats, and that prevention of the decreased activity of CAT and the downregulation of Cu,Zn‐SOD and GPx gene expression contribute to this effect.

Appetite depression in sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica L.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of experimental fasciolosis at various stages of development on the daily food intake of sheep. Five male Churra sheep, 4 months of age, were infected orally with 300 Fasciola hepatica metacercariae over a 30 day period. There was a significant increase in serum glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) activity from 40 days post-infection and in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity from 60 days post-infection. Both enzyme activities reached maximum levels in the serum of infected animals at 80 days and then progressively decreased. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity was significantly increased from 80 to 120 days post-infection. Glycaemia was significantly decreased from 60 days post-infection. The average daily food intake was shown to steadily decrease until approximately 100 days. The coincidence of decreased food intake with the period of significant increase, both in AST and GLDH activities, indicated that damage caused around the time of migration of immature flukes through the liver parenchyma may be involved in appetite depression.

Evaluation of the potential protective effects of ad libitum black grape juice against liver oxidative damage in whole-body acute X-irradiated rats.

AIMS The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of ad libitum black grape (Vitis labrusca) juice against liver oxidative damage in whole-body acute X-irradiated rats. MAIN METHODS Animals were fed ad libitum and drank voluntarily black grape juice or placebo (isocaloric glucose and fructose solution) for 6 days before and 15 days following a 6 Gy X-irradiation from a 200 kV machine. KEY FINDINGS Irradiated animals receiving placebo showed a significant increase in the concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), a marker of lipid peroxidation, as well as a significant decrease in both Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and reduced glutathione concentration (GSH). Black grape juice supplementation resulted in a reversal of lipid peroxidation, Cu/ZnSOD activity, and GSH concentration, towards values not significantly differing from those in non-irradiated, placebo-supplemented rats. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) and Cu/ZnSOD changes in protein expression were observed for irradiated rats. No change in p53 expression or DNA fragmentation was found. SIGNIFICANCE Ad libitum black grape juice intake is able to restore the liver primary antioxidant system against adverse effects due to whole-body acute X-irradiation in rats after 15 days post-irradiation. The results support using antioxidant supplements as a preventive tool against radiation-induced harm.

Effect of Black Grape Juice against Heart Damage from Acute Gamma TBI in Rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential positive effect of black grape juice (BGJ) on lipid peroxidation considering Total Body Irradiation (TBI) in Wistar rats. As a potential feasible means of evaluation in situ, blood serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were evaluated as a marker for heart damage from acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Twenty rats were divided into four groups, two of them being irradiated by gamma-rays from a Co-60 source. Animals were treated by gavage with 2 mL per day of BGJ or placebo for one week before and 4 days after 6 Gy whole body gamma-irradiation, when they were euthanasiated. LDH on serum and lipid peroxidation on heart tissue were evaluated. High concentration of metabolites from lipid peroxidation in heart, and high LDH level on serum were found only in gamma-irradiated group given placebo, mainly at the first 24 h after radiation. Phytochemical analysis of BGJ was performed by determining total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins followed by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/DAD) analysis, which showed resveratrol as the major constituent. Results suggest that BGJ is a good protective candidate compound against heart damage from ARS and its effects suggest its use as a radiomodifier.

Purple grape juice as a protector against acute x-irradiation induced alterations on mobility, anxiety, and feeding behaviour in mice

The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that a moderate intake of organic purple grape juice shows a positive radiomodifier effect over early behavioural damage following acute X-irradiation in mice. Anxiety-, locomotion-, and feeding-related responses to 6 Gy total body X-irradiation (TBI) were studied via open field, Rotarod, and feeding/drinking recording. Thirty-two male mice weighing 25-30 g were grouped according grape juice (J) or water (W) ad libitum drinking and either non-irradiated (N) or irradiated (R). 24 h post-TBI the access frequency to the center and corners of the open field was decreased, and the total stay in the corners increased, in RW vs. NW mice. Anxiety-related parameters decreased in RJ vs. RW mice. Rotarod latency times increased 72 h post-TBI in RJ vs RW mice. No overall changes in food and drink intake were observed along the experimental period. On the irradiation day, bout number was increased and bout duration was decreased in RW mice. The changes were reversed by purple grape juice intake. Grape juice intake before and after TBI can overcome several radiation-induced changes in behaviour within 24-72 hours after sub-lethal X-irradiation. This beneficial effect on short-term anxiety and mobilityrelated activities could probably be included in the list of flavonoid bio-effects. The present findings could be relevant in designing preventive interventions aimed to enhance body defense mechanisms against short-term irradiation damage.

Ingested Nitrate and Breast Cancer in the Spanish Multicase-Control Study on Cancer (MCC-Spain).

Background: Ingested nitrate leads to endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds that are breast carcinogens in animals, but human evidence is limited. Objective: We evaluated ingested nitrate as a risk factor for breast cancer (BC) in a multicase–control study. Methods: Hospital-based incident BC cases and population-based controls were recruited in eight Spanish regions in 2008–2013; participants provided residential and water consumption from 18 years of age and information on known BC risk factors. Long-term nitrate levels (1940–2010) were estimated and linked with residential histories and water consumption to calculate waterborne ingested nitrate (milligrams/day). Dietary ingested nitrate (milligrams/day) was calculated using food frequency questionnaires and published dietary nitrate contents. Interactions with endogenous nitrosation factors and other variables were evaluated. A total of 1,245 cases and 1,520 controls were included in the statistical analysis. Results: Among the study regions, average ± SD waterborne ingested nitrate ranged from 2.9 ± 1.9 to 13.5 ± 7.5 mg/day, and dietary ingested nitrate ranged from 88.5 ± 48.7 to 154 ± 87.8 mg/day. Waterborne ingested nitrate was not associated with BC overall, but among postmenopausal women, those with both high nitrate (> 6 vs. < 2.6 mg/day) and high red meat intake (≥ 20 vs. < 20 g/day) were more likely to be cases than women with low nitrate and low red meat intake (adjusted odds ratio = 1.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 2.49; overall interaction p-value = 0.17). No association was found with dietary nitrate. Conclusions: Waterborne ingested nitrate was associated with BC only among postmenopausal women with high red meat consumption. Dietary nitrate was not associated with BC regardless of the animal or vegetable source or of menopausal status. Citation: Espejo-Herrera N, Gracia-Lavedan E, Pollan M, Aragonés N, Boldo E, Perez-Gomez B, Altzibar JM, Amiano P, Zabala AJ, Ardanaz E, Guevara M, Molina AJ, Barrio JP, Gómez-Acebo I, Tardón A, Peiró R, Chirlaque MD, Palau M, Muñoz M, Font-Ribera L, Castaño-Vinyals G, Kogevinas M, Villanueva CM. 2016. Ingested nitrate and breast cancer in the Spanish Multicase-Control Study on Cancer (MCC-Spain). Environ Health Perspect 124:1042–1049; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510334

Modelos experimentales sobre shock hemorrágico

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of trematode Aspidogastrea in the freshwater mussels in the Yangtze River basin within Anhui province, China. Methods: We initially harvested the freshwater mussels living in the Yangtze River running through Anhui area, and labeled them with corresponding number. Then the samples were dissected for isolating the flukes, which were identified by conventional staining. Results: Infection rate of trematode Aspidogastrea in freshwater mussels in the Yangtze River basin within the territory of Anhui province was 30.38℅(103/339)in general, and a total of 912 flukes of Aspidogastrea were detected in the 103 mussels, with average infection rate of 8.85 for each mussel. Conclusion: Trematode Aspdogastrea is prevalent in the freshwater bivalves living in the Yangtze River basin running through Anhui area, and the treamatode was identified as Aspidogaster sp. belong to Aspidogaste under Aspidogastridae of Aspidogastrea.Objective: to assess the use of oral nutritional supplements analyzing the reason for prescription and its implication in caloric-protein intake. Setting: study performed at a university hospital of 350 beds with medical and surgical specialties. Subjects, patients: Patients inclusion was done by selecting all starting oral nutritional supplement prescription. Exclusion criteria were being younger than 18 years, being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, having cognition or communication impairments, being on concomitant parenteral nutrition or requiring complete enteral diet, and/or using nasogastric tube for feeding. We also excluded special enteral diets, specifically designed for certain conditions. Interventions: One-year long prospective study on prescription of oral nutritional supplements. Through clinical chart review and personal interview, we recorded demographic data, nutritional parameters, characteristics of the diet and supplement, and caloricprotein intake prescribed and ingested. The data were introduced in an Access97 database and processed by means of SPSS software for Windows®. We performed a descriptive study of quantitative and qualitative variables, a χ2 analysis between qualitative variables, and a comparative analysis between means of all paired data by means of the student’s t test, and variance analysis between quantitative variables. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: we were only able to analyze 77 out of 130 prescriptions for nutritional supplements since we could not adequately interview the remaining patients, mainly due to neurological impairments. Mean age was 74.8 years (SD = 12) and 50.6% were women. The departments prescribing the highest number of supplements were hematology (22.1%) and internal medicine (20.8%). GI neoplasm was the most frequent diagnosis at admission (27.3%). The most frequent indication was kwashiorkor (45.5%), with 15.6% of patients being well nourished. Mean therapy duration was 11 days (SD = 11.1), and the main reason for termination was hospital discharge (70.1%). The supplement was concomitantly prescribed with the meals in 70.6% of the cases, and more than halfMaterial y metodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 55 pacientes de 65,4 ± 14,7 anos, 35,7% mujeres y 64,3% varones con un IMC 27,87 ± 5,56 kg/m (0% con IMC 30 kg/m ) en tratamiento con NPT con una duracion de 28 ± 5 dias (mas de 20 dias en el 75% de los casos). El 16,1% presentaba Diabetes Mellitus previa al inicio de NPT. En el 64,3% de los pacientes, la fistula ocurria tras cirugia reciente: en un 38.8% tras reseccion de colon, 16,6% de intestino delgado y 13,9% de estomago. La NPT se planificaba para aportar diariamente 1,5 × Gasto Energetico Basal, 1,5 g/kg/dia de proteinas, 6 mg de vitamina B 12 y 414 μg de acido folico. Ninguna solucion contenia hierro.Objective. To assess the impact of weight loss in clinical progression of the comorbidities in a group of morbid obese patients submitted to surgical treatment with the duodenal switch technique. Study setting. Between 2001-2006, we have operated by the duodenal crossing technique a total of 118 morbid obese patients (97 women and 21 men), mean age 42.6 years. Average pre-surgical BMI was 49.7, with average overweight of 69.1 kg. After surgical intervention, we have prospectively assessed the progression of the main comorbidities (arterial hypertension, diabetes, OSAS, osteoarticular pathology, dyslipidemia), according to the subscale of the BAROS scoring system. Postsurgical controls are done at months 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 and annually thereafter. We have followed-up 110 patients, of whom 90 presented comorbidities, being the ones studied. Results. At 3 months post-surgery, we observed a decrease in the mean value of %WL to 31%, and a mean BMI value of 41.3, the percentage of lost BMI being 40.3%. Most of the weight loss occurred within 2 years, with %WL of 74.8% and a percentage of lost BMI of 97.7%. In 68 patients (75.5%) there was resolution of their comorbidities, 14.4% having improvement, and 10% with no improvement in spite of the surgery. Of patients achieving complete resolution, almost all of them achieved it within two years after surgery. Cure rates correlate with weight loss, so that at 3 months, with a mean weight loss of 25 kg (BMI decrease of 8.4 points) the comorbidity resolution rate is 45.5%. At 12 months, with a mean decrease in BMI of 16.4 points, %WL of 61.6% and % of lost BMI of 70.4%, the comorbidity resolution rate is 89.7%. At two years, by the time most of the main comorbidities resolved (68 patients), the BMI decreased by 22.4 points, the %WL 74.8% and the % of lost BMI 97.9%. Conclusion. The aim of bariatric surgery is weight loss and overweight-associated comorbidities improvement. In our study, most of the comorbidities improvement started at the third month, with the highest improvement rate occurring within two years, verifying that there is a direct relationship between post-surgical weight loss comorbidities improvement and resolution in most of the cases.Objective: To investigate the breeding rate and breeding density of Carpoglyphus lactis in stored Fructus Jujubae in Anhui, China in order to provide a scientific basis for prevention of Carpoglyphus lactis(C. lactis) from spoiling the dried fruit of such category. Methods： By the breeding nature of C. lactis, we collected samples of Fructus Jujubae, which were kept over 6 months in general, from the dried fruit shop and (or) Chinese herbal medicine warehouse, and isolated C. lactis from those samples. The mite specimens were prepared, and microscopically and morphologically identified. Species classification was done in accordance with Hughes (1976). Result:C. lactis was identified in 19 of the 300 samples, with breeding density and breeding rate of 6.52 heads/g and 6.33%. Constitute ratio at distinct developmental phase was associated with adult (including nymph, 85.71%), larva(12.27%), hypopus (0.56%) and egg(1.45%), respectively. The richness index, diversity index and evenness index was1.644, 1.644 and 0.923, respectively. Conclusion： Carpoglyphus lactis appears infesting in large quantity in the Fructus Jujubae stored in the above places in Anhui province, and the density is higher. Therefore, it is urgent to take effective measures to prevent C. lactis from spreading over other dried products stored in the same room and potential human intestinal acariasis as a result of the biological contamination.Objective: To determine possible associations between the risk of breast cancer in Brazilian women and demographic, social and economical variables, and past dietary intake. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil, between june and november 2003 involving a group of 33 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer and a control group of 33 healthy women volunteers. Personal details, health history and past dietary intake were obtained via questionnaires and interviews. Data between groups were compared using χ2, Fisher, and Student’s t test, whilst associations were evaluated using a non-conditional logistic regression method and odds ratio (OR). Results: Statistically significant differences between the two groups were revealed with respect to age distribution (P = 0.007), family income level (P = 0.02), educational level (P 45 years), low family income (<

Ameliorative effect of black grape juice on systemic alterations and mandibular osteoradionecrosis induced by whole brain irradiation in rats

520/month), poor educational level (primary school level or lower) and past regular consumption of pork fat and fatty meat may be factors associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.A case of peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis in a patient who suffered a Hirschsprung disease 30 year before is presented. TH present condition caused an irreversible intestinal obstruction and the patients received home parenteral nutrition without unremarkable complications longer than two years.Introduction: Clinical nutrition is an activity realized in most of Health Centres of France, Canada, Great Britain and USA. The aim of our work was to determine activity and resources of Nutrition Units of Hospitals in the Community of Castilla y Leon. Material and methods: A questionnaire was send to all Hospitals of Castilla y Leon (SACYL); Hospital UniMaterial y método: Se estudió una población de pacientes postquirúrgicos (n = 22; 12 hombres y 10 mujeres) de 72,9 años de promedio (DE = 13,5) que fueron apareados en razón de edad y además un 40% de ellos por sexo, en dos grupos: A) con gastrectomía total (73%) o parcial (23%) por neoplasia y B) control, presencia de íleo paralítico postquirúrgico de causa no neoplásica. La duración media de la NPT fue de 14 días (DE = 2) y 13 días (DE = 2) respectivamente siendo la composición estándar de 12 g/N2, 100 kcal no proteicas/g N2, carbohidratos/lípidos: 63/38; volumen: 1.550-2.250 mL. Se realizaron controles basales habituales antes de la cirugía y al final de la NPT. Se analizaron los niveles de: Hb, Hto, contaje de linfocitos, contaje de neutrófilos y bioquímicos: glucosa, urea, creatinina, proteínas y albúmina. Análisis estadístico: test no paramétrico U de Mann Whitney y correlación de Pearson.El Órgano Oficial de SENPE, Nutrición Hospitalaria, no ha parado de crecer y prosperar a lo largo de sus 26 años de existencia. La revista se ha ido haciendo un hueco merecido en las bases de datos electrónicas y repositorios, alcanzando a los lectores interesados en su temática, no solo en España e Iberoamérica, sino también en países de ámbito sajón y en otros muy lejanos. El éxito ha traído parejo un incremento de originales, que en 2006 permitió alcanzar la cifra de 1.000 páginas publicadas. La creciente exigencia de los revisores, rechazando un treinta por ciento de los artículos recibidos, no ha sido impedimento para esta progresión, de lo que nos congratulamos. Otro de los éxitos positivos de este éxito editorial ha sido el aumento de números suplementarios de NUTR HOSP, documentos monográficos relativos a congresos, cursos, eventos o conclusiones de grupos de trabajo. La proliferación de los suplementos, muy halagüeña al comienzo, empezó a preocuparnos por las posibles desviaciones de la esencia de la revista. Vaya por delante que todos los suplementos han cumplido siempre las pautas éticas exigibles por la revista y por la SENPE, pero lo que escapaba al ámbito del comité editorial era la garantía de originalidad de todas las contribuciones, la homogeneidad en su estructura de acuerdo con las normas de publicación de la revista y, lo que es más importante, la falta de revisión por pares de sus contenidos. Esto último contradice formalmente la esencia de una revista científica. Por ello, Nutrición Hospitalaria y su comité editorial se encontraron ante un dilema: si se renuncia a la edición de suplementos que apoyan acciones especiales de la SENPE, se deja de prestar un servicio muy importante a la sociedad. Si se continua, incumplimos la normativa de revisión por pares. Hemos consultado los entornos científicos internacionales y rápidamente encontramos la solución, que colegas como Clin Nutr vienen aplicando desde hace uno o dos años: los suplementos deben aparecer bajo la cobertura de un ISSN diferente, llevando su propia paginación correlativa, en volúmenes independientes. Esta solución, que nos ha parecido la idónea, ha sido refrendada por el Comité Científico y la Junta Directiva de la Sociedad, y empezará a implementarse a partir de mayo de 2008. Así, el lector recibirá, a lo largo de los próximos meses, suplementos de Nutr Hosp ligeramente distintos. Los contenidos científicos de esta nueva línea editorial vendrán avalados por el Comité Científico Educacional y la Junta Directiva de SENPE. Creemos que con esta nueva fórmula que, como decimos, está ampliamente implantada en otras revistas científicas, se propiciará la multiplicación de los suplementos científicos de diversa índole que, en definitiva, redundará en beneficio de los miembros de SENPE y de nuestros lectores en general, sin menoscabo de las características referentes a originalidad y control que se exigen a los artículos que se publiquen en Nutrición Hospitalaria.OBJECTIVES: To analyze the complications related to enteral nutritional support in patients with lateral amyotrophic sclerosis included in our home-based mechanical ventilation program (HMVP), with a special emphasis on gastrointestinal complications. METHOD: Retrospective, descriptive study of the patients included in our HMVP directed by intensive care physicians, by means of systematic review of the medical records (included in a Microsoft Access database) during the period 2004-2011. RESULTS: In the period 2004-2011, 73 patients with a diagnosis of lateral amyotrophic sclerosis were followed: 34 (46.6%) refused nutritional support through gastrostomy or nasogastric tube, whereas 39 (53.4%) accepted. Twenty (51.3%) of the 39 patients with (home-based nutritional support) were females. The mean age of the patients was 60.6 + 13.4 years (95% CI 56.4-64.8). Diagnoses at the time of inclusion in the HMVP were: LAS, 21 cases (53.8%), and LAS with bulbar impairment 18 (43.1%). 34 patients (87.2%) were fed through percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), 3 (7.7%) through surgical gastrostomy, and 3 (7.7%). PEG was performed at the time of inclusion of the patients in the program, with a mean duration of 222.7 + 356.6 days (95% CI: 110.8-334.7). In patients with LAS, the mean duration was 271.4 + 449.5 days (95% CI: 130.3-412.1), and with LAS and bulbar impairment of 126.4 + 131.3 days (95% CI: 90-172.6). The mean duration of the nasogastric tube was 7.3 + 4.8 months (95% CI: 4-10.6). The mean duration of enteral nutrition was 578.6 + 872.9 days (95% CI: 304.7-852.6). There were complications in 35 patients (89.7%), and no complications occurred in only 4 patients (10.3%) (See table 2). Constipation occurred after initiating EN in 30 patients (76.9%); however, it was already present in 18 of them (60%). The remaining gastrointestinal complications observed were: abdominal bloating (9 patients; 23.1%); abdominal pain (6; 15,.4%); nausea and vomiting (5; 12.8%); diarrhea (3; 7.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal complications are the most common ones; constipation stands out as the main problem in patients with LAS and HEN. However it may not be considered as a complication exclusively due to nutritional support since it is also a manifestation in the disease course. The occurrence of granulomas is also common.Obesity combined with breast cancer is a public health problem, given the high incidence and prevalence of both diseases. The aim of this review is to determine the current status of research on the relationship between the body weight of breast cancer patients and their prognosis. Overweight and obesity at the time of diagnosis are associated with a worse prognosis in breast cancer survivors. Observational studies show that breast cancer mortality is 33% higher in obese than in non-obese survivors. Furthermore, weight gain after diagnosis is common in these patients and is even greater in those receiving chemotherapy. Weight gains of 2-8 kg are observed in 68% of patients 3 years after diagnosis. Each 5 kg increase in body weight is associated with a 13% increase in breast cancer specific mortality. The mechanisms that cause this weight gain are not totally known. A higher weight gain is also associated with higher the risk of co-morbid cardiometabolic diseases, which worsen the quality of life and shorten overall survival. On the other hand, excess adipose tissue is an indirect promoter of tumor cell proliferation and releases circulating estrogens. Hence, preventing excess weight is important in these patients. An important limitation is the small number of randomised controlled trials investigating the type of diet that could be recommended specifically to breast cancer survivors. The evidence from current studies suggests that a healthy diet, low in fat and simple sugars and with a high proportion of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain products, has the potential to reduce morbidity and the risk of recurrence significantly, thus improving prognosis and quality of life in the long term.Objective To investigate the species and breeding density of acaroid mites in the stored rhizomatic traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Anhui province, China, in order to supply evidences for control and prevention of such species. Methods The stored traditional Chinese medicinal materials of root-stock origins were collected in 30 herb stores and warehouses in 17 cities across Anhui province. Mites were collected by using Tullgren funnel and directicopy, and identified under microscopy. Results 22 species of acaroid mites, belonging to 15 genera under 5 families, were identified from the total 47 stored samples, in which Tyrophagus putrescentiae，Acarus farinae, Carpoglyphus lactis, and Cologlyplus berlesei were predominant. Conclusion Breeding density of acaroid mites was high in the stored rhizomatic traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Anhui province. This indicates that the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs of root-stock origins in storage are seriously contaminated by the acaroid mites, and such infestation should be positively controlled to reduce the potential harm to public health.INTRODUCTION For critically patients, enteral immunonutrition results in notable reductions in infections and in length of stay in hospital, but not on mortality, raising the question as to whether this relate to the heterogeneous nature of critically ill patients or to the absence of the altered absorption of specific nutrients within the immunonutrient mix (e.g. iron). Immune-associated functional iron deficiency (FID) is not only one of the many causes or anaemia in the critically ill, but also a cause of inappropriate immune response, leading to a longer duration of episodes of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and poor outcome. OBJECTIVE This prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of FID in critically ill patients during their stay in intensive care (ICU) in order to find the more appropriate population of patients that can benefit from iron therapy. METHOD Full blood cell counts, including reticulocytes (RETIC), serum iron (SI), transferring levels (TRF) and saturation (satTRF), serum TFR receptor (sTfR), ferritin (FRT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in venous blood samples from 131 random patients admitted to the ICU for at least 24 h (Length of ICU stay, LIS; min: 1 day; max: 38 days). RESULTS Anaemia (Hb < 12 g/dL) was present in 76% of the patients (Hb < 10 g/dL in 33%), hypoferremia (SI < 45 microg/dl) in 69%; satTRF < 20% in 53%; FRT < 100 ng/mL in 23%; sTfR > 2.3 mg/dL in 13%; and CRP > 0.5 mg/dL in 88%. Statistically significant correlations (r of Pearson; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01) were obtained for serum CRP levels and WBC**, Hb*, TRF**, satTRF*, and FRT**. There was also a strong correlation between TRF and FRT (-0.650**), but not between FRT and satTRF or SI. LIS correlated with Hb*, CRP**, TRF*, satTRF* and FRT**. CONCLUSIONS A large proportion of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU presented the typical functional iron deficiency (FID) of acute inflammation-related anaemia (AIRA). This FID correlates with the inflammatory status and the length of stay at the ICU. However, 21% of the ICU patients with AIRA had an associated real iron deficiency (satTRF < 20; FRT < 100 and sTfR > 2.3). Since oral supplementation of iron seems to be ineffective, all these patients might benefit of iv iron therapy for correction of real or functional iron deficiency, which in turn might help to ameliorate their inflammatory status.In August 1976, a young man named LeRoy fell from a ledge, fracturing his femur. Major internal bleeding was suspected. During a laparotomy, the trauma team ensured that all internal organs were intact and the orthopedic team set his fracture. Thirty days later, LeRoy died. He had eaten little; each day he only received three liters of glucose, the equivalent of 510 calories, intravenously. The glucose was insufficient to meet his nutritional needs, and he lost over 20% of his body weight during his hospital stay. The cause of death was due to “physicianinduced” malnutrition. Meanwhile, a paper around the same time documented that the prevalence of malnutrition in Boston hospitals was 44% and that malnutrition itself was a predictor of higher complication and death rates. As a result, like-minded physicians formed a society that created training programs and encouraged formation of hospital nutrition teams. Industry produced nutrition formulas and catheters. Complications in sick hospitalized patients plummeted while survival rates rose, and California passed legislation to mandate nutritional support. Though the health care industry recognized the importance of nutrition in patient care, Congress failed to pass fiscal support for nutrition teams. As a result, hospitals disbanded their newly created nutrition teams, nutrition education and skills declined, and hospital complications and death rates have risen again.Some bioethicists consider older age as a limiting factor for receiving special medical care. Older adults comprise the majority of home enteral nutrition patients (neoplams of the head, neck, and upper gastrointestinal tract neuromuscular swallowing disorders, dementia, etc) On the contrary, there are very few data on Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) in the elderly. We report these of a 75 years old man affected from a severe short bowel syndrome due to mesenteric thrombosis. After a hospital stay of two months he was sent home on HPN. His current caregiver was her wife, a 72 year old woman suffering from incipient Parkinson’s disease. HPN lasted for 11 years and was stopped because of clinical deterioration. During this time he presented 5 catheter- related infections (1.3 episodes/1,000 days). 5 catheters were used (average length 788 days). He was hospitalized four times because of HPN complications. Functional status was maintained along almost all the length of HPN. Conclusions: The rate of complications in this patient was similar to other groups of age receiving HPN. The technique was not burdensome for the family. Older age cannot be consider, by itself a limiting factor when receiving long term nutritional support.Patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) have an increased risk for having hyponutrition, both in the phase prior to transplantation and after this one. The indication of specialized nutritional support is common in allogenic HSCT, whereas patients submitted to auto-HSCT need it in the presence of complications that compromise an adequate nutrients intake. Enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube has difficulties in these patients; the presence of mucositis delays the indication for enteral nutrition, which usually is poorly tolerated. Thus, frequently parenteral nutrition needs to be used as the route for nutritional support. The use of specific substrates, such as glutamine, is a controversial issue.La edad media fue 4,29 anos (0,1-14,4); el 48% de los ninos tenian menos de 3,5 anos. En el 70% de los casos, el motivo de la indicacion fue la disminucion de la ingesta. La duracion media fue 116,16 dias (4-1.165), manteniendose durante menos de 100 dias en el 79% de los pacientes. El porcentaje calorico medio administrado fue del 68%, precisando el 48% de la serie un aporte < 50%. El tipo de acceso inicial fue la sonda nasogastrica en el 92% de los ninos, la gastrostomia en el 5% y la sonda nasoyeyunal en el 3%. El modo de alimentacion mas frecuentemente utilizado fue la administracion exclusivamente nocturna en el 39% de los casos. El soporte de modo continuo se realizo en el 32%. La dieta polimerica pediatrica se empleo en el 70% de los pacientes. Los datos antropometricos, a excepcion de la talla, mejoraron de forma significativa tras la aplicacion del soporte. El 33% de los pacientes mostraban un indice de Waterlow inicial ≥ 90%.Metodo: Se realizo una busqueda de GPC disponibles en Internet en New Zeland Guidelines Group, Nacional Institute for Clinical Excellence, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, Canadian Medical Association Infobase, Health Services/Technology Assesment, Fisterra y Medline. Se incluyeron ademas las direcciones de la ASPEN y la SENPE. Se recuperaron todas aquellas guias editadas o actualizadas en los ultimos cinco anos, en idioma ingles o castellano.Resumen es: Las enfermedades cardiovasculares representan la primera causa de muerte en Venezuela desde el ano 1967. Existen evidencias que demuestran que la lesion ...Material y metodo: Estudio retrospectivo. Cuando existe indicacion de administrar nutricion enteral en intestino, las enfermeras de nuestra Unidad colocan este tipo de sonda en la misma habitacion del enfermo, segun tecnica descrita por el fabricante. Despues de 24 horas de su colocacion, y sin fijarla en el ala de la nariz durante este tiempo, se realiza una radiografia de abdomen en decubito supino para valorar la situacion de la punta de la sonda (gastrica vs intestinal). Si no progresa a intestino, se reajusta la longitud introducida de la sonda y se repite la radiografia en las siguientes 24 horas. Ninguno de los pacientes tenian ventilacion asistida o sedo-relajacion. El exito en la colocacion se expresa como porcentaje de paso a traves del piloro.Introduction: Significant malnutrition exists in a high percentage of patients with head and neck cancer. Malnutrition is associated with defects in immune function that may impair the host response to malignancy. Malnutrition and immunosupression make patients highly susceptible to postoperative infections and complications. Objectives: Compare two immunoenhanced enteral nutritions with a control diet, and evaluate the effect in postoperative infections, length of stay and inflammatory markers. Patients: A population of 44 patients with oral and laryngeal cancer was enrolled in a randomized trial. At surgery, patients were randomly allocated to three groups: (group I); patients receiving an arginine-enhanced formula (group II); patients receiving a standard polymeric formula, and (group III) patients receiving an arginine, RNA and omega-3 fatty acids enhanced formula, in an isonitrogenous way. Results: The duration of enteral nutrition in the three groups was similar with an average duration of 14,5 ± 8 days. The length of postoperative stay was similar, with an average of 19,8 ± 8,5 days. Wound infections and general infections were more frequent in the control group. Fistula rates were not improved in the enhanced diet groups. No significant intergroup differences in the trend of the two plasma proteins (albumin, transferrin), lymphocytes, weight, IL-6, CPR and TNFα were detected. The control group showed the highest levels of TNFα at the fourteenth postoperative day. Gastrointestinal tolerance and diarrhoea rate were similar in all the patients. Conclusions: Immunoenhanced enteral nutrition formulas improved the infection rate in the postoperative of head and neck cancer patients. In the fistula rates, we observed that technical problems and nutritional status might have played an equally important role, and therefore the positive effect of immunonutrition in this parameter might have been overestimated.Introduction: Due to the high prevalence of overweight and obesity, new strategies are needed for its prevention and treatment. Nutritional Coaching (NC) has been shown to be effective in weight reduction, even though the innovation of this concept, it’s not always used properly. Objective: To verify if NC, added to dietary assessment, is an effective approach for weight loss in overweight or obese population, compared with only technical dietary assessment. Methodology: We performed a search for papers related to NC to establish quality parameters for this intervention. A systematic review was conducted, including randomized controlled trials that apply CN according to the selected parameters and comparing it with technical dietary assessment. Results: Eight high quality studies were included in the analysis. Among these, six revealed statistical differences on behalf of the group that received NC. Conclusion: Nutritional Coaching is an effective approach for weight reduction. Future nutritional coaching intervention research would benefit from clear definitions of this new model.Introducción: El control de calidad es fundamental en cualquier intervención de enfermería clínico-asistencial y más aun en el paciente crítico. El protocolo de Enfermería de Nutrición Parenteral Total (NPT), que incluye el cambio de bolsa de nutrición, equipo de perfusión y cuidado del catéter venoso central (CVC) define unas actividades básicas. Fundamentamos el seguimiento en dos aspectos principales: 1. El paciente tiene un potencial de complicaciones relacionadas con la inserción del CVC y su manipulación, y 2. las repetidas manipulaciones de la conexión del CVC al equipo durante el tratamiento puede incidir en las infecciones del mismo.Material y metodo: Se estudiaron 27 pacientes (16 hombres y 11 mujeres) con carcinoma de colon y una edad media de 62,1 anos ? 11,2 (M?DE), de los cuales un 59% estaban en un estadio III de la enfermedad. De los pacientes incluidos, 11 habian recibido tratamiento quimioterapico previo y 16 no. El protocolo de Oncologia supuso la administracion aislada de 5fluoracilo en el 80% de los pacientes combinado con Oxaliplatino en un 17%. En todos los casos se registraron parametros antropometricos y analiticos (hemograma completo, glucosa, creatinina, bilirrubina, ALAT, ASAT, fosfatasa alcalina, albumina y marcadores tumorales) determinados antes de la cirugia y al final de la nutricion parenteral. Para evaluar la posible influencia del soporte nutricional los pacientes fueron divididos en dos grupos, en funcion de si habian o no recibido tratamiento citostatico previo a la intervencion. El analisis estadistico se realizo con el test ?2 y el de Wilcoxon (SPSS 10.0), aceptandose un nivel de significacion estadistica para p < 0,05.

Melatonin Is Able to Reduce the Apoptotic Liver Changes Induced by Aging Via Inhibition of the Intrinsic Pathway of Apoptosis

Abstract Purpose: Whole brain irradiation (WBI) causes a variety of secondary side-effects including anorexia and bone necrosis. We evaluated the radiomodifying effect of black grape juice (BGJ) on WBI alterations in rats measuring food and water intake, body weight, hemogram, and morphological and histological mandibular parameters. Materials and methods: Forty male rats (200–250 g) were exposed to eight sessions of cranial X-ray irradiation. The total dose absorbed was 32 Gy delivered over 2 weeks. Four groups were defined: (i) NG: non-irradiated, glucose and fructose solution-supplemented (GFS); (ii) NJ: non-irradiated, BGJ-supplemented; (iii) RG: irradiated, GFS-supplemented; and (iv) RJ: irradiated, BGJ-supplemented. Rats received daily BGJ or GFS dosing by gavage starting 4 days before, continuing during, and ending 4 days after WBI. Results: RJ rats ingested more food and water and showed less body weight loss than RG rats during the irradiation period. Forty days after WBI, irradiated animals started losing weight again compared with controls as a consequence of masticatory hypofunction by mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Osteoclastic activity and inflammation were apparent in RG rat mandibles. BGJ was able to attenuate the severity of ORN as well as to improve white and red blood cell counts. Conclusions: Fractionated whole brain irradiation induces mandibular changes that interfere with normal feeding. BGJ can be used to mitigate systemic side-effects of brain irradiation and ORN.