Findings from Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Uncover a Potential Marker of Nutritional Status in Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients often have altered nutritional status and periodically undergo imaging tests. We hypothesized that standard uptake values (SUV) by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) could be associated with the nutritional status of cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult cancer patients who underwent clinical evaluation and PET/CT with 18 F-FDG on the same day were included in a cross-sectional pilot study. The focus was on evaluating 18 F-FDG findings with regard to nutritional status, with an emphasis on liver SUVmean and tumor SUVmax. RESULTS: A total of 179 patients were evaluated. One hundred and three (57.5%) were classified as well-nourished, 54 (30.1%) as suspected/moderately malnourished, and 22 (12.2%) as severely malnourished. The median hepatic SUVmean was 2.29, with 1.87 corresponding to the 10th percentile. There was a significant difference between the severely malnourished (2.02) and well-nourished or suspected/moderately malnourished (2.36) patients. Severely malnourished patients were more likely to have a SUVmean < 1.87 (p = .035). The tumor SUVmax also was significantly higher in severely malnourished patients (p = .003). CONCLUSION: Cancer patients with severe malnutrition have lower values of hepatic SUVmean and higher values of tumor SUVmax in PET/CT with 18F-FDG when compared to well-nourished patients.

SHORT-TERM EFFECT OF WHEY PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WAITING FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: A DOUBLE BLINDED RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL.

BACKGROUND: Chronic liver disease is associated with malnutrition that negatively impacts a patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). AIM: To evaluate the short-term effect of whey protein supplementation on the HRQoL and nutritional and functional status of patients waiting for liver transplantation. METHODS: This was a double-blind randomized clinical trial with patients waiting for liver transplantation who were randomized into two groups: WP (whey protein supplementation) and the control (casein supplementation). Both groups received 40 g (20 g in the morning and 20 g in the evening) for 15 days. Nutritional and functional status were evaluated. Energy balance was calculated as the difference between energy intake (24-hour recall) and total energy expenditure (assessed by indirect calorimetry). The chronic liver disease questionnaire was used to assess HRQoL. All measurements were performed before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were evaluated. Malnutrition was present in 56.9%, and it was directly associated with a poor HRQoL (p<0.05). No improvement on the nutritional and functional status was observed, in either group after protein supplementation. HRQoL improved after WP and casein supplementation, with no differences between groups (p>0.05). Patients who met protein requirements and had a positive energy balance demonstrated a higher HRQoL score (4.9, p<0.05), without between-group differences. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition substantially reduces HRQoL. Short-term WP or casein supplementation improved similarly the HRQoL.

Critical analysis of factors affecting the efficiency of nutrition therapy teams.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition therapy (NT), defined as the provision of oral, enteral, or parenteral nutrition, should be considered a part of the holistic approach to patient care, while quality assessment of its practices is crucial. The present study aimed to identify variables capable of explaining the reason behind compliance of NTTs with the regulatory requirements. METHODS: A cross-sectional study focused on assessing the quality of nutritional therapy practices among NTTs who previously stated to be able to comply with requirements of the Brazilian law versus those who were not able to meet these demands. Hospitals were classified as A (teams that had previously reported to be able to meet the requirements) and B (those unable to comply with them). The study was approved by the ethics committees of all participant institutions. RESULTS: Twenty six hospitals met the inclusion criteria. The main hospital features, such as size, classification, service type, and percentage of hospitals providing NT were similar. Hospitals differed on the median number of patients undergoing NT per week: in group B (41.0; IR = 28.0-58.0) and group A (11.0; IR = 5.0-48.0) (p < 0.05), but there were no differences regarding personnel expertise. Both hospital groups had low quality control of the NT processes. CONCLUSION: Lack of quality assurance is responsible for the inadequate services in both type of institutions.

Preoperative and Postoperative Resting Energy Expenditure of Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Operations.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition therapy plays a major role in the perioperative management of surgical patients. Understanding energy metabolism and correctly establishing the adequate energy needs is a crucial step to provide optimal nutrition care. The aim of this study was to assess the resting energy expenditure (REE) after major abdominal procedures and its associated factors. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study conducted at a single center. REEs of patients admitted for gastrointestinal surgical procedures were measured by indirect calorimetry 24 hours prior to the procedure and reassessed at least once within the fifth postoperative day. Substrate oxidation was calculated according to the Frayn equation. Nutrition status was evaluated using subjective global assessment. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in the REEs throughout the study period; however, there was a decrease in the respiratory quotient during the postoperative period, as well as a decrease in carbohydrate oxidation and an increase in lipid oxidation. Only 33.3% of the patients presented a postoperative increase in REE > 10%. Those patients presented higher blood-monocyte levels. CONCLUSION: Postoperative REE is not increased in most of the patients. In patients who had increased REE, associated factors included higher levels of monocytes.

Short-term effect of whey protein supplementation on the quality of life of patients waiting for liver transplantation: a double blinded randomized clinical trial / Efeito a curto prazo da suplementação com proteína do soro do leite sobre a qualidade de vida de pacientes em fila de espera para o transplante hepático: ensaio clínico randomizado

ABSTRACT Background: Chronic liver disease is associated with malnutrition that negatively impacts a patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Aim: To evaluate the short-term effect of whey protein supplementation on the HRQoL and nutritional and functional status of patients waiting for liver transplantation. Methods: This was a double-blind randomized clinical trial with patients waiting for liver transplantation who were randomized into two groups: WP (whey protein supplementation) and the control (casein supplementation). Both groups received 40 g (20 g in the morning and 20 g in the evening) for 15 days. Nutritional and functional status were evaluated. Energy balance was calculated as the difference between energy intake (24-hour recall) and total energy expenditure (assessed by indirect calorimetry). The chronic liver disease questionnaire was used to assess HRQoL. All measurements were performed before and after the intervention. Results: Fifty-six patients were evaluated. Malnutrition was present in 56.9%, and it was directly associated with a poor HRQoL (p<0.05). No improvement on the nutritional and functional status was observed, in either group after protein supplementation. HRQoL improved after WP and casein supplementation, with no differences between groups (p>0.05). Patients who met protein requirements and had a positive energy balance demonstrated a higher HRQoL score (4.9, p<0.05), without between-group differences. Conclusion: Malnutrition substantially reduces HRQoL. Short-term WP or casein supplementation improved similarly the HRQoL.

RESUMO Racional: A doença hepática crônica está associada à desnutrição que afeta negativamente a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS). Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da suplementação aguda de proteína do soro de leite na QVRS e no estado nutricional e funcional dos pacientes em lista de espera para o transplante hepático. Métodos: Ensaio clínico randomizado com pacientes à espera do transplante hepático que foram randomizados em dois grupos: PS (suplementação com proteína do soro de leite) e Controle (suplementação com caseína). Ambos os grupos receberam 40 g das proteínas (20 g pela manhã e 20 g à noite) por 15 dias. O estado nutricional e funcional foi avaliado. O balanço energético foi calculado como a diferença entre a ingestão energética (recordatório de 24 horas) e o gasto energético total (avaliado por calorimetria indireta). O questionário de doença hepática crônica (CDLQ) foi utilizado para avaliar a QVRS. Todas as medidas foram realizadas antes e após a intervenção. Resultados: Cinquenta e seis pacientes foram avaliados. A desnutrição esteve presente em 56,9% e, diretamente associada à baixa QVRS (p<0,05). A suplementação, com ambas as proteínas, não alterou o estado nutricional e funcional dos pacientes (p>0,05). Entretanto, a QVRS melhorou após a suplementação com PS e caseína, sem diferenças entre os grupos (p>0,05). Pacientes que alcançaram as necessidades proteicas e com balanço energético positivo tiveram maior escore de QVRS (4,9; p<0,05), sem diferenças entre os grupos (p>0,05). Conclusão: A desnutrição reduz substancialmente a QVRS. A suplementação aguda com PS ou caseína melhorou de forma similar a QVRS.

Malnutrition is associated with poor health-related quality of life in surgical patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with gastrointestinal cancer who were admitted for elective surgical treatment. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in which patients with a diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer were evaluated before a surgical procedure. The nutritional assessment included subjective global assessment (SGA) and measurements of weight loss percentage, bioelectrical impedance, and functional capacity. HRQoL was evaluated by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Statistical analyses were performed with a significance level of 5%. The sample size was calculated based on a pilot study. RESULTS: We evaluated 132 patients, the majority of whom were men. The median age of the patients was 62 y, and the most prevalent tumors were in the colon, rectum, and anus (52.3%). The SGA highlighted the high prevalence of malnutrition (69.9%), which was confirmed by the rates of weight loss (73.8%) and the low fat-free mass index (56.8%). Malnourished patients and patients with severe weight loss had worse functional, symptom, global health and quality of life scores (P < 0.05). Malnutrition, according to the SGA, decreased physical function and role performance scores by 9 and 20 points, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Malnutrition, assessed by various tools, was associated with poor HRQoL of surgical patients with gastrointestinal cancer.