ABSTRACT
Background. This work was constructed in order to assess the nutritional and functional status in hospitalized elderly and to study the associations between them and sociodemographic variables. Methods. 200 elderly patients (>65 years old) admitted to Internal Medicine and Neurology Departments in nonemergency conditions were included. Comprehensive geriatric assessments, including nutritional and functional assessments, were done according to nutritional checklist and Barthel index, respectively. Information was gathered from the patients, from the ward nurse responsible for the patient, and from family members who were reviewed. Results. According to the nutritional checklist, 56% of participants were at high risk, 18% were at moderate risk of malnutrition, and 26% had good nutrition. There was a high nutritional risk in patients with low income and good nutrition in patients with moderate income. Also, there was a high nutritional risk in rural residents (61.9%) in comparison with urban residents (25%). Barthel index score was significantly lower in those at high risk of malnutrition compared to those at moderate risk and those with good nutrition. Conclusions. Hospitalized elderly are exposed to malnutrition, and malnourished hospitalized patients are candidates for functional impairment. Significant associations are noticed between both nutritional and functional status and specific sociodemographic variables.
ABSTRACT
The combined effects of yeast (1 ppm) and salinity on germination, seedling growth, metabolite accumulation and antioxidant defense system of flax (Linum usitatissimum) seeds grown at 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl were studied. In this investigation, the germination was completely inhibited at 300 mM NaCl. Moreover, salinity induced marked increases in lipid peroxidation product (MDA), soluble carbohydrates as well as the reduced glutathione which were concomitant with sharp decrease in total phenols and ascorbic acid contents in 12-day-old flax seedlings. Furthermore, NaCl treatments increased the activities of some antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase; SOD, peroxidase; POX and polyphenol oxidase; PPO). On the other hand, yeast treatments under salinity stress restored the membrane integrity and improved seedling growth. The results suggested that yeast treatments mitigated salinity stress via accumulation of some osmoprotectants such as free amino acids particularly proline which associated with elevating the defense system in terms of ascorbic acid, glutathione and total phenol contents. Yeast treatments also stimulated the activities of some antioxidant enzymes, preventing membrane peroxidation resulting in high capacity for germination and improved seedling growth under sever salt stress.
