Clinical nutrition : official journal of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Supplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention.
Earlier studies show that dietary bioactive compounds can modify proliferation of γδ-T cells. Garlic contains numerous compounds that have this potential and, in addition, has been shown to influence NK cell function. Our primary aim was to demonstrate that aged garlic extract could modify these immune cells. ⋯ These results suggest that supplementation of the diet with aged garlic extract may enhance immune cell function and that this may be responsible, in part, for reduced severity of colds and flu.
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The confounding effect of disease on the outcomes of malnutrition using diagnosis-related groups (DRG) has never been studied in a multidisciplinary setting. This study aims to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in a tertiary hospital in Singapore and its impact on hospitalization outcomes and costs, controlling for DRG. ⋯ Malnutrition was evident in up to one third of the inpatients and led to poor hospitalization outcomes and survival as well as increased costs of care, even after matching for DRG. Strategies to prevent and treat malnutrition in the hospital and post-discharge are needed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Oral nutritional support in malnourished elderly decreases functional limitations with no extra costs.
Older people are vulnerable to malnutrition which leads to increased health care costs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of nutritional supplementation from a societal perspective. ⋯ A multi-component nutritional intervention to malnourished elderly patients for three months after hospital discharge leads to significant improvement in functional limitations and is neutral in costs. A follow-up of three months is probably too short to detect changes in QALYs or physical activities.
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We aimed to test the capacity in identifying patients at nutritional risk, by comparing BMI, recent %weight loss,Nutritional Risk Screening 2002(NRS-2002),Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool(MUST) and Nutritional Risk Index(NRI) with Subjective Global Assessment(SGA),considered the Standard. The main purpose was to select the most consistent screening method for effective integration in daily surgical wards' practice. ⋯ In surgical patients, MUST + NRS-2002 are valid for nutritional screening; recent weight loss ≥ 5% also proved highly efficient; its easy/quick calculation may facilitate adherence/integration by health professionals as a minimum obligatory in clinical practice.
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Large surveys auditing feeding regimen in the ICU consistently reported hypocaloric 23 enteral feedings patterns and many studies described the association between 24 energy deficit and increased complication rate. ESPEN and ASPEN experts 25 recommend early (after 48 h) or late (after 7-10 days) catch up of the 26 energy deficit with parenteral nutrition (PN) respectively, but the level of evidence 27 was poor and larger PRCT were missing. ⋯ However, weaknesses 30 in the study design and some mixing of the 3 questions have created confusion in the 31 message delivered. In addition, the severity of the acute illness was not always similar 32 in these studies, mixing short-term acutely ill patients (less than 4 days in the ICU) 33 with long term patients (more than 10 days in the ICU).