Fatty Liver Disease and Food Insecurity: Excess in Scarcity.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is widely prevalent in the U.S and is the primary cause of chronic liver disease. Existing evidence shows that food insecurity may be an independent risk factor for fatty liver disease and is associated with poor health outcomes. Understanding the role of food insecurity in these patients can help develop mitigation strategies to address the growing prevalence of NAFLD. RECENT FINDINGS: Food insecurity is associated with increased overall mortality and health care utilization among patients with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis. Individuals from low-income households with diabetes and obesity are particularly susceptible. Trends in prevalence of NAFLD mirror that of obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Several studies in both adult and adolescent population have described an independent association between food insecurity and NAFLD. Concentrated efforts to lessen food insecurity may improve health outcomes in this group of patients. High-risk patients with NAFLD should be linked with local and federal supplemental food assistance programs. Programs directed at addressing NAFLD-related mortality and morbidity should focus on improving food quality, access to these foods, and promote healthy eating habits.

Use of Cidofovir for Safe Transplantation in a Toddler with Acute Liver Failure and Adenovirus Viremia.

Background: Since October 2021, there have been more than 500 cases of severe hepatitis of unknown origin in children reported worldwide, including 180 cases in the U.S. The most frequently detected potential pathogen to date has been adenovirus, typically serotype 41. Adenovirus is known to cause a self-limited infection in the immunocompetent host. However, in immunosuppressed individuals, severe or disseminated infections may occur. Method: We present the case of a two-year-old female who presented with cholestatic hepatitis and acute liver failure (ALF). Work up for etiologies of ALF was significant for adenovirus viremia, but liver biopsy was consistently negative for the virus. The risk for severe adenoviral infection in the setting of anticipated immunosuppression prompted us to initiate cidofovir to decrease viral load prior to undergoing liver transplantation. Result: Our patient received a successful liver transplant, cleared the viremia after 5 doses of cidofovir, and continues to maintain allograft function without signs of infection at the time of this report, 5 months posttransplant. Conclusion: Recent reports of pediatric hepatitis cases may be associated with adenoviral infection although the exact relationship is unclear. There is the possibility of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 environment, or other immunologic modifying factors. All patients presenting with hepatitis or acute liver failure should be screened for adenovirus and reported to state health departments. Cidofovir may be used to decrease viral load prior to liver transplantation, to decrease risk of severe adenoviral infection.

Optimizing the nutrition support care model: Analysis of survey data.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is underrecognized and underdiagnosed, despite high prevalence rates and associated poor clinical outcomes. The involvement of clinical nutrition experts, especially physicians, in the care of high-risk patients with malnutrition remains low despite evidence demonstrating lower complication rates with nutrition support team (NST) management. To facilitate solutions, a survey was designed to elucidate the nature of NSTs and physician involvement and identify needs for novel nutrition support care models. METHODS: This survey assessed demographics of NSTs, factors contributing to the success of NSTs, elements of nutrition education, and other barriers to professional growth. RESULTS: Of 255 respondents, 235 complete surveys were analyzed. The geographic distribution of respondents correlated with population concentrations of the United States (r = 90.8%, p < .0001). Most responding physicians (46/57; 80.7%) reported being a member of NSTs, compared with 56.5% (88/156) of dietitians. Of those not practicing in NSTs (N = 81/235, 34.4%), 12.3% (10/81) reported an NST was previously present at their institution but had been disbanded. Regarding NSTs, financial concerns were common (115/235; 48.9%), followed by leadership (72/235; 30.6%), and healthcare professional (HCP) interest (55/235; 23.4%). A majority (173/235; 73.6%) of all respondents wanted additional training in nutrition but reported insufficient protected time, ability to travel, or support from administrators or other HCPs. CONCLUSION: Core actions resulting from this survey focused on formalizing physician roles, increasing interdisciplinary nutrition support expertise, utilizing cost-effective screening for malnutrition, and implementing intervention protocols. Additional actions included increasing funding for clinical practice, education, and research, all within an expanded portfolio of pragmatic nutrition support care models.

Pediatric Feeding Disorder in Children With Short Bowel Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to characterize the prevalence of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) in short bowel syndrome (SBS) and study factors contributing to the persistence of PFD. METHODS: Single-center retrospective study of patients diagnosed with SBS at age 6 months or younger. Data were collected in 3-month intervals through age 2 years, and every 6 months through age 4 years. Demographic information, anthropometric data, and details regarding nutrition support were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: We reviewed 28 patients. Of the 21 patients who were weaned off parenteral nutrition, 57.1%, 81.0%, 90.5%, and 100.0% achieved this by 12, 24, 36, and 48 months of age, respectively. Of the 13 patients who were weaned off enteral nutrition, 30.8%, 69.2%, 76.9%, and 100.0% achieved this by 12, 24, 36, and 48 months, respectively. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of PFD was 100.0%, 76.5%, 68.8%, and 70.0% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years of age, respectively. All patients who exhibited resolution of PFD had an underlying etiology of necrotizing enterocolitis. Median small bowel percentage remaining was greater in patients who exhibited resolution of PFD compared to those who did not. Except for the group of patients seen at 4 years of age, a larger percentage of patients with vomiting/history of requirement of postpyloric feeds were seen among patients with PFD compared to those without PFD. CONCLUSION: PFD is prevalent in children with SBS. Although prevalence decreases over time, children with PFD will continue to require more medical attention than children that do not.

Food Insecurity, Malnutrition, and the Microbiome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Food insecurity is defined as the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources. Although a relationship between food insecurity and malnutrition would seem intuitive, this relationship remains unclear. This review was aimed at summarizing the emerging evidence of the relationship between food insecurity, malnutrition, and intestinal microbial changes. RECENT FINDINGS: Evidence suggests that malnutrition is certainly associated with alteration in the intestinal microbiome. Alternative theories have been proposed as to the nature of the alteration, whether that be a result of microbial immaturity, dysbiosis, or contributions from both processes. Although the evidence continues to evolve, targeted nutritional therapies in conjunction with specific microbial therapy of probiotics or prebiotics may hold great promise for the treatment of malnutrition in the clinical and community settings.

Nutrition Management of Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality among premature infants. The exact cause is considered multifactorial and related to gastrointestinal immaturity, inflammation and enteral feeding. The role of nutrition is vitally important in NEC. The main modifiable risk factor is the introduction and advancement of enteral feedings. After an infant has recovered from NEC, enteral feeds should be cautiously resumed to prevent injury from prolonged use of parenteral nutrition. The logistics of how, when, and what to feed are somewhat unclear and often depend on the severity of the disease. For patients with an enterostomy, refeeding the distal intestine with the small-intestinal ostomy output may improve bowel growth and prevent long-term complications.

Systematic Review of Hypersensitivity to Parenteral Nutrition.

Hypersensitivity to the components of parenteral nutrition (PN) is a rare but important complication of PN. We performed a systematic review of hypersensitivity to PN to enable us to build an approach to the individual patient who presents with PN hypersensitivity. A systematic literature search was performed in Ovid Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science using terms for "hypersensitivity" AND "parenteral nutrition" and relevant synonyms. A total of 28 articles were analyzed, and 33 hypersensitivities to PN or components of PN were reported in these 28 articles. Reports of hypersensitivity and subsequent conclusions were based on the clinical observations made by each reporting author. These reactions were evenly split between pediatric and adult patients. Hypersensitivity to PN occurred on day of starting PN in 60.6% patients and after that time in 36.3% patients (range: 1-21 days). Of the hypersensitivities that occurred on day 1 of PN, 70% occurred in the first 30 minutes of initiation of PN. Cutaneous manifestations were the most common, followed by anaphylaxis, respiratory symptoms, and hemodynamic instability. The components most frequently identified as allergens were intravenous fat emulsion (48.4%), multivitamin solution (33.3%), and amino acid solution (9%). Based on this review, an algorithm was created to guide the practitioner on management of PN after the occurrence of such a reaction.