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Existe una relación íntima y de doble vía entre nuestro microbioma y el genoma. La normobiosis corresponde a aquella situación en la que las bacterias comensales y simbiontes se encuentran en equilibrio con las enteropatogénicas. En la normobiosis nos beneficiamos en términos de reforzamiento de la barrera intestinal, tolerancia inmunológica y de la producción de un enorme número de moléculas sintetizadas por la microbiota intestinal. La disbiosis, donde prevalecen las bacterias enteropatogénicas sobre las simbióticas y comensales se relaciona con condiciones adversas, como dieta inadecuada, sedentarismo, consumo de tabaco y alcohol, estrés físico y emocional, enfermedades, uso de antibióticos y otros medicamentos. En la disbiosis, aumenta la permeabilidad intestinal, puede ocurrir traslocación de microorganismos y moléculas inadecuadas y se establece una respuesta inflamatoria cuya intensidad puede depender del tipo e intensidad de la prevalencia de bacterias patogénicas. Con eso se pierde el beneficio de la normobiosis. La composición de la microbiota intestinal puede estar alterada en el paciente quirúrgico del aparato digestivo por razones inherentes al paciente, al procedimiento y a la propia microbiota. Las intervenciones con prebióticos, probióticos y simbióticos pueden ser útiles en la reducción de la morbilidad postoperatoria. Con el enorme desarrollo de los conocimientos en esta área, el cirujano, al conocer las alteraciones y la modulación de la microbiota y su metagenómica, podrá beneficiar, en mucho, a sus pacientes.

Background and aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the presence of fat in hepatocytes because of decreased β-oxidation and increased lipogenesis. Prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotic have modulatory effects on intestinal microbiota and may influence the gut-liver axis. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of prebiotic, probiotics, and synbiotic on liver histopathology and gene expression related to β-oxidation and lipogenesis after hypercholesterolemia.Methods: Wistar male adult rats (n = 40) were submitted to hypercholesterolemic conditions (HPC) (60 days). On Day 30 of HPC, rats were subdivided in 5 groups: negative control (NC): without HPC + Gv (distilled water); positive control (PC): with HPC + Gv (distilled water); prebiotic (PRE): HPC + Gv with prebiotic (Fiber FOS®); probiotic (PRO): HPC + Gv with probiotic strains Gv (Probiatop®); and synbiotic (SYN): HPC + Gv with synbiotic (Simbioflora®). All rats were sacrificed on Day 30 post-treatment. Blood was collected to verify total serum cholesterol, and liver tissue was sampled to verify histopathological changes and gene expression. Gene expression related to ß-oxidation (PPAR-α and CPT-1) and lipogenesis (SREBP-1c, FAS and ME) was evaluated in liver tissue using RT-qPCR.Results: PC had higher cholesterol levels when compared to NC. PRE and SYN rats had lower cholesterol levels than PC. PC rats showed more histopathological changes than NC rats; PRE and SYN rats showed fewer alterations than PC rats. PPAR-α was expressed at higher levels in SYN and PC rats compared with PRE and PRO rats. CPT-1 expression was similar in all groups. SREBP-1c was expressed at higher levels in PC rats compared with NC rats; levels were lower in SYN rats compared with PRO rats; levels were lower in PRE rats compared with PC and PRO rats. FAS was expressed at lower levels in PRE rats compared with SYN rats. ME expression was lower in PC rats compared with NC rats.Conclusion: Prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation improve hepatic alterations related to hypercholesterolemia. These changes appear to be mediated by altered expression of genes related to β-oxidation and lipogenesis.

Aim: To study the effects of different protocols of fish oil lipid emulsion (FOLE) infusion on acute inflammation in a rat model of colitis. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats (n = 51) were randomized into 5 groups to receive parenteral infusion of saline (SS) or soybean oil lipid emulsion (SO), as controls, and FOLE composed of: fish oil alone (FO); a mixture (9:1 v/v) of SO with FO (SO/FO); or 30% soybean oil, 30% medium-chain triglycerides, 25% olive oil, and 15% fish oil (SMOF). After 72 h of intravenous infusion, experimental colitis was induced with acetic acid. After 24 h, colonic samples were analyzed for histological and cytokine changes. Results: In relation SS group, macroscopic necrosis was less frequent in the FO group and histological necrosis was more frequent in the SMOF group. There was a direct and inverse relation of colon interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-4 respectively, with histological necrosis. In comparison to the SS group, FO increased IL-4 and IFN-gamma and decreased TNF-alpha, SO/FO decreased TNF-alpha, and SMOF increased IL-1 and decreased IL- 4. Conclusion: In acetic acid-induced colitis, the isolate infusion of FOLE composed of fish oil alone was more advantageous in mitigating inflammation than the infusion of FOLE containing other oils, and this difference may be due the influences of their different fatty acid contents.

O Relatório de Bellagio sobre Agricultura Saudável, Alimentação Saudável, Populações Saudáveis foi baseado em ciência, mas politicamente orientado. Foram amplamente discutidos o papel e a quantidade de nutrientes saudáveis e não saudáveis em alimentos que podem estar subjacentes à epidemia de doenças não transmissíveis em todo o mundo, com atenção ao conteúdo relativo de ácidos graxos ômega-3 e ômega-6, e também de açúcar, especialmente frutose. O relatório conclui que o consumo de açúcar, principalmente na forma de frutose de alta energia em refrigerantes, representa uma grande e insidiosa ameaça à saúde, e a maioria das dietas é deficiente em ácidos graxos ômega-3 e muito rica em ômega-6 ácidos graxos. A reunião estabeleceu que: os governos devem elevar, como uma questão de urgência, a Nutrição para uma posição de prioridade nacional; o acesso a uma dieta saudável deve ser considerado um direito humano; e a responsabilidade principal sobre a Nutrição deve ser colocada nas mãos do Ministério da Saúde, em vez do da Agricultura, para que os requisitos de saúde conduzam as prioridades agrícolas, e não vice-versa.

Parenteral glutamine supplementation in acute inflammatory conditions is controversial. We evaluated the inflammatory and survival responses after parenteral glutamine infusion in sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) model. Lewis rats received 1 g/kg parenteral glutamine (n=42), saline (n=44), or no treatment (n=45) for 48 h before AP induction. Blood, lung, and liver samples were collected 2, 12, and 24 h after AP to measure serum cytokines levels and tissue heat shock protein (HSP) expression. From each group, 20 animals were not sacrificed after AP for a 7-day mortality study. Serum cytokine levels did not differ among groups at any time point, but the intragroup analysis over time showed higher interferon-γ only in the nontreatment and saline groups at 2 h (versus 12 and 24 h; both p≤0.05). The glutamine group exhibited greater lung and liver HSP90 expression than did the nontreatment group at 2 and 12 h, respectively; greater liver HSP90 and HSP70 expression than did the saline group at 12 h; and smaller lung HSP70 and liver HSP90 expression than did the nontreatment group at 24 h (all p≤0.019). The 7-day mortality rate did not differ among groups. In experimental AP, pretreatment with parenteral glutamine was safe and improved early inflammatory mediator profiles without affecting mortality.

RACIONAL: Risco nutricional mede o potencial de morbimortalidade associado ao estado nutricional. A obesidade é um distúrbio nutricional cada vez mais presente em hospitais gerais e pode estar acompanhada de alteração nutricional com conseqüências prejudiciais à evolução clínica do doente, além de ser fator associado a complicações pós-operatórias e morte. OBJETIVO: Identificar o risco nutricional através da ferramenta de triagem nutricional Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool e verificar o desfecho de complicações pós-operatórias, buscando associação entre risco nutricional e obesidade. MÉTODOS: Avaliaram-se 433 pacientes adultos hospitalizados em enfermarias cirúrgicas variadas, Na admissão hospitalar mediu-se peso e altura corpóreos. Aplicou-se a triagem nutricional após definição da obesidade pelo Índice de Massa Corpórea (Kg/m2) e classificação em grau I (30-34,99 Kg/m2); grau II (35-39,99 Kg/m2); grau III (±40,00 Kg/m²). Os pacientes foram seguidos até a alta hospitalar ou óbito para acompanhar sua evolução clínica. RESULTADOS: Dentre os pacientes avaliados, 17,1% foram obesos. O risco nutricional nos pacientes obesos foi 23%. Ocorreram complicações em pacientes das enfermarias cirúrgicas de esôfago, vias biliares, vascular, cabeça e pescoço. As complicações apresentadas incluíram infecções pulmonares, de parede abdominal e urinária, fístulas gastrintestinal, biliar e pancreática, insuficiência respiratória, atelectasia lobar, e sangramento pós-operatório. CONCLUSÕES: Obesos hospitalizados podem apresentam risco nutricional sendo a obesidade grau I a mais freqüente entre eles em hospital geral. Houve associação positiva entre risco nutricional e freqüência de complicações justificando triagem nutricional na admissão hospitalar como rotina, incluindo pacientes com sobrepeso e obesidade.BACKGROUND: Nutritional risk measures the morbid-mortality potential associated to nutritional state. Obesity represents a nutritional disorder frequently in general hospital in nowadays and it may be associated with nutritional alteration, presenting prejudicial consequences to patient clinical outcome, besides being a factor related to postoperatory complications and death. AIM: To identify nutritional risk using Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool and verify the results from postoperatory complications, correlating nutritional risks and obesity. METHODS: Total of 433 adults patients hospitalized in general surgical ward were evaluated. At admission, patients were measured on body weight and height. Nutritional screening was applied after obesity definition using Body Mass Index as parameter (Kg/m²), classified in grade I (30-34,99 Kg/m²); grade II (35-39,99 Kg/m²); grade III (>40,00 Kg/m²). Follow-up patients were conducted until patient's discharge or eventual death. RESULTS: Among patients submitted to the study, 17,1% were considered obese. Nutritional risk in obese patients was verified in 23%. Complications presented during hospital staying were related to esophagus, biliary tract, vascular, head, and neck. Infections complications were pulmonary, abdominal wall, and urinary tract. Complications due to fistulas were located in gastrointestinal tract, biliary tract, and pancreas. Others complications consisted of respiratory insufficiency, lobar atelectasis, and postoperatory bleeding. CONCLUSION: Hospitalized obese patients might present nutritional risk, being obesity grade I the more frequently one in general hospital. Positive association between nutritional risk and complication frequency was verified in the present study, justifying by the nutritional screening at the hospital admission as routinely, including overweight and obese patients.

RACIONAL: A glutamina é o aminoácido mais abundante no sangue, por desempenhar importante papel no sistema imune. É considerado aminoácido condicionalmente essencial em situações como desnutrição protéico-calórica. OBJETIVO: Verificar o efeito da dieta suplementada com glutamina sobre variáveis bioquímicas e hematológicas de ratas submetidas a protocolo de desnutrição, induzido por dieta rica em lactose. MÉTODOS: Ratas Wistar fêmeas (n=20) e com 21 dias de idade, foram submetidas ou não à desnutrição calórico-protéica induzida por diarréia, através da administração de dieta rica em lactose 60% durante 15 dias. Após o período de desnutrição, animais eutróficos ou desnutridos permaneceram durante 30 dias com oferta de diferentes dietas (padrão e experimentais). De acordo com estado e tratamento nutricionais, os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos distintos: 1) GC: animais eutróficos + dieta padrão, 2) GD: animais desnutridos + dieta rica em lactose (60%), 3) GDGLN: animais desnutridos + dieta rica em glutamina (2%); e 4) GDP: animais desnutridos + dieta padrão. Após os 30 dias de tratamento nutricional, amostras de sangue foram obtidas por punção cardíaca para avaliação de variáveis bioquímicas (proteínas totais, albumina, uréia) e hematológicas (quantificação da série vermelha e branca). RESULTADOS: Após 15 dias do início do experimento o ganho de peso dos grupos GD (46,4 ± 2,60g), GDGLN (39,2 ± 8,9g) e GDP (33,2 ± 11,5g) foi menor em relação ao controle (64 ± 4,24g, PBACKGROUND: Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in blood stream, playing an important role in the immune system. It is conditionally considered an essential amino acid to certain state conditions such as protein-energy malnutrition. AIM: To verify the effect of glutamine diet supplemented on hematological and biochemical variables in rats subjected to protocol of malnutrition, induced by an enriched lactose diet. METHODS: Total of 20 Wistar females rats, 21 days of age, were submitted or not to the protein-calorie malnutrition induced by diarrhea, using an enriched lactose diet 60% for 15 days. After malnutrition period, eutrophic or malnourished animals remained for 30 days provided with a variety diet (standard and experimental). According to nutritional status and treatment, animals were randomized into four distinct groups: 1) GC: animals eutrophic + standard diet, 2) GD: malnourished animals + enriched lactose diet (60%), 3) GDGLN: malnourished animals + enriched glutamine diet (2%); and 4) GDP: malnourished animals + standard diet. After the 30 days of nutritional treatment, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture for biochemical (total protein, albumin and urea) and hematological evaluations (red and white blood cells quantification). RESULTS: After 15 days of experimental study, weight gain in the respective groups GD (46.4 ± 2.60 g), GDGLN (39.2 ± 8.9 g) and GDP (33.2 ± 11.5 g) was lower once compared to the control (64 ± 4.24 g, P

RACIONAL: O insulinoma é o tumor pancreático mais freqüente (50% a 60%), com incidência de 4/1 milhão de pessoas, mais comum em mulheres (2:1) e comportamento benigno quando seu diâmetro for inferior a 2 cm. O diagnóstico é clínico-laboratorial e a cirurgia é o único tratamento com potencial curativo. OBJETIVOS: Relatar a aplicabilidade da videolaparoscopia com ultra-sonografia intra-operatória em cinco casos diagnosticados e tratados cirurgicamente. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados três homens e duas mulheres, idade variando de 20 e 53 anos, com quadro clínico compatível com insulinoma, sendo proposta, após comprovação de imagem, enucleação da lesão por videolaparoscopia, com ultra-sonografia intra-operatória. RESULTADOS: Apresentaram boa evolução pós-operatória e remissão completa da hipoglicemia relacionada ao tumor, com um caso evoluindo com fístula pancreática e outro com pseudocisto pancreático. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento cirúrgico dos insulinomas é factível e exeqüível por videolaparoscopia com ultra-sonografia intra-operatória e completa ressecção das lesões.BACKGROUND: Insulinoma are insulin productive tumors originated from the pancreatic beta cells with an incidence of 4/1 million persons. It is more prevalent between the 5th and 6th decade, in women (2:1) and from the endocrine pancreatic tumor is the more frequent (50% to 60%). Insulinoma behave as a benign tumor when the diameter is inferior to 2 cm. The diagnosis is mainly clinical and laboratorial. Surgery is the unique treatment with potential cure. AIM: The present observation reports the use of simultaneous laparoscopic resection associated to intraoperative ultrasonography. METHODS: Five patients were studied (3 man and 2 women) with age from 20 to 53 years old, clinically diagnosed with insulinoma. After image work out it was proposed nuclear resection of the insulinoma by laparoscopic technique associated to intraoperative ultrasonography. RESULTS: The patients had a complete remission of tumor related hypoglycemia and one patient developed a pancreatic fistula and other a pancreatic pseudocist with good postoperative resolution. CONCLUSIONS: The videolaparoscopic approach for the surgical treatment of insulinoma is feasible. The intraoperative ultrasonography helps to identify the lesions and check their complete resection with low complication rate.

Experimental colitis induced by acetic acid has been used extensively as a model for intestinal inflammatory disease. Colonic tissue lesions of intestinal inflammatory disease patients seem to be related to the increased local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma). PURPOSE: To assess the cytokine expression pattern identified through immunohistochemistry in colonic mucosa after experimental colitis induced by acetic acid and establish the relationship between this pattern and the presence of macroscopic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats (n = 39) were divided at random into 4 groups: NC45 and NC24 (control without colitis; sacrificed at 45 minutes and 24 hours, respectively); and WC45 and WC24 (with experimental colitis induced by acetic acid; sacrificed at 45 minutes and 24 hours, respectively). Macroscopic and microscopic alterations in colonic tissue were evaluated, and cytokine expression was assessed through immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After 24 hours, IL-1 expression was greater in the groups with colitis when compared to the groups without colitis. IL-4 expression was higher in the WC45 group. There was an increase in both INF-gamma and IL-6 related to the presence of necrosis of the colonic mucosa in the groups with colitis for both periods evaluated. CONCLUSION: The immunohistochemical technique was efficient for the analysis of various cytokine expressions in the colonic tissue. There was an increase in the IL-1 pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as in IL-6 and IFN-gamma associated with the presence of colonic necrosis. Experimental colitis induced by acetic acid is a useful model for the development of studies assessing the role of cytokines in the inflammation of mucosa as well as anti-cytokine therapies.O modelo de colite experimental induzida por ácido acético (CEAA) vem sendo extensamente utilizado em estudos sobre doenças inflamatórias intestinais (DII). Lesões no tecido colônico em portadores de DII parecem estar relacionados à produção local aumentada de citocinas pró-inflamatórias (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alfa e IFN-gama). OBJETIVO: Avaliar o padrão de expressão de citocinas identificadas por imunohistoquímica em tecido colônico após CEAA e relacioná-lo à presença de lesões macroscópicas. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Ratos machos Wistar adultos (n=39) foram submetidos ou não à CEAA e sacrificados para retirada do tecido colônico em dois períodos distintos, perfazendo 4 grupos aleatórios: SC45 e SC24 (sem colite; sacrifício 45 minutos e 24 horas, respectivamente); CC45 e CC24 (com colite; sacrifício 45 minutos e 24 horas, respectivamente). Avaliaram-se alterações macro e microscópicas do cólon e sua expressão de citocinas foi avaliada por imunohistoquímica. RESULTADOS: Após 24 horas, a expressão de IL-1 foi maior no grupo com colite, em relação ao sem colite. IL-4 foi mais expressa no grupo CC45. Houve aumento de INF-gama e IL-6, relacionados à presença de necrose da mucosa colônica, nos grupos com colite, em ambos os períodos avaliados. CONCLUSÃO: A técnica de imunohistoquímica foi eficiente para a análise da expressão de citocinas na mucosa colônica. Houve aumento da expressão das citocinas pró-inflamatórias IL-1 e de IL-6 e IFN-gama associado à presença de necrose colônica. A CEAA é um bom modelo para o desenvolvimento de estudos destinados a avaliar o papel das citocinas na inflamação da mucosa e terapias anti-citocinas.

Objective: Almost half of all hospitalized patients are malnourished with low physician awareness or implementation of nutrition support¹. To address this problem, a 2-day immersion course in clinical nutrition for physicians was developed by the Latin American Federation of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (FELANPE) with support from Abbott Laboratories. The goal of Total Nutritional Therapy (TNT) is to help physicians utilize this nutrition knowledge to increase their awareness of malnutrition and implementation of nutritional therapy. Since 1997, over 8,000 physicians have completed the TNT course in 16 Latin American countries. Research Methods & Procedures: During 1999 and 2000, 675 participants responded to a survey 6 months after having completed the TNT course to determine what impact the course had on the use of nutrition assessment, nutrition support teams, or nutrition consultations in their clinical practice, and if they had participated in any nutrition association or conferences. Results: The majority of physicians who completed the survey increased their use of nutrition assessment and time dedicated to nutrition therapy, and increased the number of their patients placed on nutrition therapy. Conclusions: The TNT course has been shown to be an efficient model of clinical nutrition education for general physicians. The course should be considered as part of the training of medical residents.Objetivo: Casi la mitad de todos los pacientes hospitalizados se encuentran desnutridos y los médicos tienen muy poco conocimiento o apenas utilizan el soporte nutricional¹. Para corregir este problema, la Federación Latinoamericana de Nutrición Parenteral y Enteral (FELANPE) ideó un curso introductorio de nutrición clínica para médicos de dos días, con el apoyo de los Laboratorios Abbott. El objetivo del tratamiento nutricional total (TNT) es ayudar al médico a aprovechar sus conocimientos de nutrición para incrementar la conciencia sobre malnutrición y aplicación del tratamiento nutricional. Desde 1997, más de 8.000 médicos han completado el curso TNT en 16 países latinoamericanos. Métodos y procedimientos experimentales: Durante 1999 y 2000, 675 participantes respondieron, seis meses después de haber terminado el curso TNT, a una encuesta en la que se pretendía averiguar la repercusión que había tenido el curso en el uso de la evaluación nutricional, los equipos de apoyo nutricional o las consultas sobre nutrición en la práctica clínica y si habían participado en alguna asociación o conferencia de nutrición. Resultados: La mayoría de los médicos que rellenaron la encuesta había aumentado el uso de las herramientas de evaluación nutricional y el tiempo dedicado a este tratamiento; asimismo, había aumentado el número de pacientes que recibieron tratamiento nutricional. Conclusiones: El curso TNT ha resultado un modelo eficiente para la educación de los médicos generales en nutrición clínica. Este curso debería integrarse en la formación de los médicos residentes.

Background - Transplantation of the small intestine is a surgical procedure currently under investigation for its possible application in the treatment of patients with short bowel syndrome, aiming at the reintroduction of an oral diet. Aim - To define the morbidity and mortality of intestinal transplantation in small animals using microsurgery. Intra and postoperative morbidity and mortality were studied in Wistar rats submitted to orthotopic intestinal allotransplantation. Material and Method - The animals were divided into three groups: group A (37 donor animals), group B (37 recipient animals), and group C (10 control animals). Group B was divided into three subgroups according to survival time. Subgroup TI consisted of animals that died during surgery or due to causes directly related to surgical intervention, subgroup T2 consisted of animals that died between the 4th and 29th postoperative day, and subgroup T3 consisted of animals that survived after 30 days. Transplanted animals were evaluated in terms of surgical technique used (vascular and intestinal anastomosis), graft quality, surgical time, and clinical parameters. The animals that died by the 29th postoperative day were submitted to autopsy and the remaining ones were sacrificed after 30 days. Result - There was a high rate of complication of a surgical nature. Early mortality rate, i.e., mortality up to the third postoperative day, was 54% with vascular anastomosis being the major cause of death. Surgical time was evaluated in a restricted and homogeneous group and showed a strong prognostic value in terms of successful transplantation. Clinical parameters such as weight loss, reduction of ingestion, reduction of motor activity and diarrhea were directly correlated with acute rejection. Conclusion - The experimented intestinal transplant is a procedure companied by considerable morbidity and mortality due to surgical complications in postoperative period, vascular anastomosis and total surgical time.

Una disminución de la función cognitiva y de la memoria se considera que es una consecuencia normal del envejecimiento. Los ácidos grasos omega-3 poliinsaturados son cada vez más propuestos como suplementos dietéticos con la capacidad de reducir el riesgo de deterioro cognitivo, incluyendo la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA). Objetivo: Estudiar el efecto de los omega-3 en el deterioro cognitivo a través de la revisión de estudios recientes de observación, intervención y experimentales. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda en PubMed, Medline, Cochrane y Embase para los estudios epidemiológicos y clínicos en la literatura internacional que utilizan combinaciones de las siguientes palabras clave: "la enfermedad de Alzheimer", "deterioro cognitivo leve", "función cognitiva", "factores dietéticos", "ácidos grasos omega-3", "EPA y DHA". Conclusiones: Los estudios han demostrado el papel protector de los ácidos grasos omega-3 en el deterioro cognitivo leve, demencia y en el riesgo y la progresión de la enfermedad de Alzheimer en los adultos mayores. Se necesitan más estudios para comprender el mecanismo de acción de los ácidos grasos omega-3 sobre la cognición. Las dosis, la composición de cápsulas de EPA y DHA y el tiempo de suplementación deben ser explorados.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Several factors limit the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis as a valid predictor of the amount of body fat in morbidly obese individuals. The purpose of this review is to examine the theory and assumptions that may limit the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis in such individuals. RECENT FINDINGS: There is currently insufficient validation of bioelectrical impedance analysis equations in obese individuals with body mass indices greater than 34 kg/m. Several factors limit the application of bioelectrical impedance analysis in morbidly obese individuals. Obese individuals have a relatively high amount of extracellular water and total body water, which may overestimate fat-free mass and underestimate fat mass. Central body fat will generally overestimate the percentage of fat-free mass and underestimate the percentage of fat mass in overweight and obese adults with the use of prediction formulas developed in normal weight individuals. SUMMARY: A relatively increased amount of total body water and a relative increase in extracellular water will result in an underestimation of the percentage of body fat and an overestimation of fat-free mass in the morbid obesity state. A different body build disposition (mainly in those with severe abdominal obesity) will result in an overestimation of the percentage of body fat. New equations are needed to validate bioelectrical impedance analysis in morbidly obese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review will discuss the financial cost of the decisions taken regarding the nutritional therapy of hospitalized patients compared with those treated at home. To facilitate comprehension, the authors present a concise introduction to the general concepts of economic health studies, including a glossary of technical terms. RECENT FINDINGS: From a revision of the literature, economic aspects are underscored involving the cost of malnutrition, the maintenance of work in a nutritional support team, the use of nutritional therapy in home-care programmes, and in the use of nutritional therapy as a prophylactic action against surgical complications. SUMMARY: Hospital malnutrition burdens the system financially by provoking a higher rate of surgical complications, mortality and longer hospital stays. Investment in nutritional therapy provides economic returns. The cost of the creation and maintenance of the nutritional support team is easily offset by the resources generated by the team itself. Nutritional therapy in home-care is highly advantageous. In Brazilian trials, groups of surgical patients receiving nutritional therapy within the integrated hospital-home model demonstrated a cost 2.6 times less than the conventional group (exclusively intra-hospital treatment). The adoption of preoperative immunomodulatory nutritional therapy in patients undergoing elective surgery as a prophylactic against postoperative surgical complications presented a 2.24 times reduction in the total treatment cost. The search for the ideal model of nutritional therapy is based on the binomial of quality and cost. The prescription of nutritional therapy has a favourable impact on financial and resource-generating aspects of the institution, when practised by properly trained groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Malnutrition is highly prevalent in hospitalized patients. Despite this, it is not routinely assessed in most hospitals worldwide. One of the reasons that might explain this fact is that there is no gold-standard nutritional assessment tool, and much has been written advocating this or that technique. The main topic of this review is discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each of the available tools.RECENT FINDINGS Several studies have recently reinforced the relationship between poor nutritional status and higher incidences of complications, mortality, length of hospital stay and costs. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to be able to diagnose malnutrition early.SUMMARY The evaluation of nutritional status is a broad topic that encompasses several clinical variables. In order to be ideal, the method should be able to predict patient outcome, should be able to be performed by most care-givers, should be inexpensive, and should not be time-consuming. Unfortunately, most nutritional assessment instruments were published with insufficient details regarding their intended use and method of derivation, and with an inadequate assessment of their effectiveness. Therefore, health professionals should be critical when defining which instrument should be adopted by an institution, and several factors should be taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of the phase angle (PA) obtained from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for mortality prediction in patients with cirrhosis., Methods: In total, 134 male cirrhotic patients prospectively completed clinical evaluations and nutritional assessment by BIA to obtain PAs during a 36-mo follow-up period. Mortality risk was analyzed by applying the PA cutoff point recently proposed as a malnutrition marker (PA ≤ 4.9°) in Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression models., Results: The patients were divided into two groups according to the PA cutoff value (PA > 4.9°, n = 73; PA ≤ 4.9°, n = 61). Weight, height, and body mass index were similar in both groups, but patients with PAs > 4.9° were younger and had higher mid-arm muscle circumference, albumin, and handgrip-strength values and lower severe ascites and encephalopathy incidences, interleukin (IL)-6/IL-10 ratios and C-reactive protein levels than did patients with PAs ≤ 4.9° ( P ≤ 0.05). Forty-eight (35.80%) patients died due to cirrhosis, with a median of 18 mo (interquartile range, 3.3-25.6 mo) follow-up until death. Thirty-one (64.60%) of these patients were from the PA ≤ 4.9° group. PA ≤ 4.9° significantly and independently affected the mortality model adjusted for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score and age (hazard ratio = 2.05, 95%CI: 1.11-3.77, P = 0.021). In addition, Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with PAs ≤ 4.9° were significantly more likely to die., Conclusion: In male patients with cirrhosis, the PA ≤ 4.9° cutoff was associated independently with mortality and identified patients with worse metabolic, nutritional, and disease progression profiles. The PA may be a useful and reliable bedside tool to evaluate prognosis in cirrhosis., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors of this manuscript have no conflict of interest to disclose.