Radiation induced mucositis and its relationship with nutritional status in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy / 中华临床营养杂志

Objective To describe the characteristics of radiation induced mucositis in patients withhead and neck cancer ( HNC) during radiotherapy, and analyze the effect of radiation induced mucositis on diet patterns and weight change and the influencing factors for radiation induced mucositis. Methods Patients with HNC treated with radiotherapy in one cancer hospital were recruited. Data were collected before, during and at the end of the radiotherapy, which included radiation induced oral and pharyngeal mucositis, pain during eat-ing, diet patterns and weight. Results Two hundred and two patients were completely investigated and 43.5％and 34. 2％ of the patients suffered from moderate to severe (≥grade 2) oral mucositis and pharyngeal mucosi-tis, respectively during the radiotherapy. At the end of radiotherapy, 53. 5％ and 51. 5％ of the patients suffered from moderate to severe oral mucositis and pharyngeal mucositis (≥grade 2 ) , respectively. Oral and pharyngeal mucositis were significantly correlated with pain during eating, diet patterns and weight ( P<0. 05) . Tumor site was the main reason that affected the severity of mucositis ( Wald χ2 =26. 033, 14. 216;P<0.001). Conclusion Radiation induced mucositis was gradually aggravated with radiotherapy progress, which is closely related to pain during eating, change of diet patterns and weight loss. The severity of mucositis is re-lated to the tumor site. Measures should be taken to strengthen the management of adverse reactions and nutri-tional status of patients.

Comparison of Dietary Patterns Between Glaucoma Patients and Normal Control Subjects

PURPOSE: To compare the dietary patterns between normal or high tension glaucoma patients and a normal control population. METHODS: A survey using the self-assessment food-frequency questionnaire was given to normal tension glaucoma (NTG) or high tension glaucoma (HTG) patients who visited a glaucoma clinic between June 2008 and September 2008. Healthy Korean subjects who had received routine health examinations at Samsung Medical Center between October 2007 and September 2008 were evaluated with the same questionnaire. Statistical analysis of variable factors including fatty fish, seaweeds, soy products and greasy meats, was performed to compare between groups. RESULTS: Sixty-two of NTG patients, 25 of HTG patients and 29,376 normal subjects were included in the present study. The mean age of each group was 51.3 +/- 13.4, 51.8 +/- 17.4 and 50.5 +/- 10.4 years, respectively. No significant difference in dietary pattern was found between the subjects with glaucoma and the normal controls (p > 0.2 in all factors). The dietary pattern of NTG and HTG patients showed no statistically significant difference in all factors (p > 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in a dietary pattern between glaucoma patients and normal subjects. In terms of glaucoma, no possible beneficial or harmful food was found.

Diet Quality and Food Patterns of Obese Adult Women from Low Income Classes: Based on 2005 KNHANES / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study aims to identify the dietary patterns relevant to obesity of Korean women among low income classes. Adults 20-64 years were used as study subjects from the data of 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We compared obese and normal-weight women in terms of their nutrients intake, diet quality and food patterns. Diet quality was assessed by using the Nutritional Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ). Our results showed higher prevalence of obesity among lower socioeconomic status women. In men, there were no significant associations with socioeconomic status and prevalence of obesity. Higher risk of nutritional inadequacy was observed among obese women compared to normal weight women. Obese women showed significantly lower INQ for nutrients such as Ca, Fe, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin and Vitamin C compared to other women. They consumed significantly higher amount of rice (p < 0.05) and lower amount of vegetables (p < 0.01). By contrast, obese men from low income classes showed higher intake of those nutrients. Obese men also consumed significantly higher amount of meats than normal weight men. Therefore, this study suggests that genderspecific approaches based on economic situation should be considered in developing the intervention program for managing obesity for low income classes.