Nutrition
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Current Parkinson's disease (PD) medications treat symptoms; none can slow down or arrest the disease progression. Disease-modifying therapies for PD remain an urgent unmet clinical need. This review was designed to summarize recent findings regarding to the efficacy of phytochemicals in the treatment of PD and their underlying mechanisms. ⋯ There is now extensive evidence from preclinical studies that neuroprotective phytochemicals as promising candidate drugs for PD are needed to translate from the laboratory to the clinic.
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Childhood obesity continues to rise worldwide. Family gut microorganisms may be associated with childhood obesity. The aim of the study was to analyze bacterial similarities in fecal microbiota composition between parent-offspring pairs as linked to body weight. ⋯ This study describes five potential gut bacteria that may be putatively involved in family weight status relationships and appear to be useful for predicting obesity.
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Food insecurity is a widely studied phenomenon; however, studies documenting food insecurity among Open Distance and e-Learning students are sadly lacking. This paper aim of this paper is to study the prevalence of food insecurity among Open Distance and e-Learning students in South Africa. The purpose is to test the common assumption that Open Distance and e-Learning students do not struggle with food insecurity as they are typically living at home or employed. ⋯ The results show that African students are more likely to experience food insecurity compared to their counterparts, while there were no substantive differences in gender. Members of the LGBTQI community were also shown to be at higher risk of food insecurity. Those whose primary income was either grants or income from an informal business were at higher risk of food insecurity than those who worked full time. The findings of this study underscore the pervasive nature of food insecurity among students in South African Open, Distance and e-Learning education.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of Two Techniques to Assess Muscle Mass Loss During ICU Stay: Muscle Ultrasound vs Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis.
Muscle wasting is a prevalent issue among long-term critically ill patients and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Evaluating muscle mass in the ICU presents challenges due to the lack of a consistent methodology and the significant impact of fluid balance range in ICU patients. This prospective study aimed to compare the utility of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and ultrasound (US) for monitoring muscle wasting in critically ill patients over an initial seven-day period of critical illness. ⋯ Ultrasound was a more suitable method for assessing and monitoring muscle wasting during ICU stays, while bioelectrical impedance analysis failed to demonstrate a comparable degree of muscle loss at Days 5 and 7. This study highlights the importance of selecting an appropriate assessment method based on the specific clinical context, emphasizing the reliability of US in evaluating muscle wasting among critically ill patients.
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition affecting metabolic pathways and physiological mechanisms. In Spain, CKD prevalence has risen, increasing patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Managing nutritional status in advanced CKD (ACKD) patients is crucial as it influences disease progression and quality of life. This study aims to describe the nutritional status of predialysis patients at University Hospital Reina Sofia, Cordoba, Spain, and develop a quick and easy model for estimating body fat percentage without bioimpedance. ⋯ Accurately assessing body composition in CKD patients is crucial as traditional measures like BMI may not capture health risks effectively. The developed model offers a practical alternative to bioimpedance for estimating body fat percentage, potentially improving CKD management and patient outcomes. Further validation in diverse populations and integration with lifestyle interventions is needed.