Malnutrition management in children with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) encompasses diverse conditions such as congenital anomalies, glomerulonephritis, and hereditary nephropathies, necessitating individualized nutritional interventions. Early detection is pivotal due to the heightened risk of adverse outcomes, including compromised growth and increased healthcare costs. The nutritional assessment in pediatric CKD employs a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach, considering disease-specific factors, growth metrics, and dietary habits. The prevalence of malnutrition, as identified through diverse tools and guidelines, underscores the necessity for regular and vigilant monitoring. Nutritional management strategies seek equilibrium in calorie intake, protein requirements, and electrolyte considerations. Maintaining a well-balanced nutritional intake is crucial for preventing systemic complications and preserving the remaining kidney function. The nuanced landscape of enteral nutrition, inclusive of gastrostomy placement, warrants consideration in scenarios requiring prolonged support, with an emphasis on minimizing risks for optimized outcomes. In conclusion, the ongoing challenge of managing nutrition in pediatric CKD necessitates continuous assessment and adaptation. This review underscores the significance of tailored dietary approaches, not only to foster growth and prevent complications but also to enhance the overall quality of life for children grappling with CKD.

Nutritional management interventions and multi-dimensional outcomes in frail and pre-frail older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Frailty, a prevalent geriatric syndrome, presents challenges exacerbated by malnutrition. Nutritional Management Interventions (NMIs) offer hope in frailty reversal, necessitating exploration of their multi-dimensional outcomes. OBJECTIVES: Assess NMIs' impact on frail and pre-frail older adults across diverse outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 studies (2012-2023) evaluated NMIs' effects on physical, dietary, psychological, and frailty aspects. Literature quality was assessed, and data analyzed with Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies involving participants were included in the analysis. Participants numbered 968, with the intervention group averaging 77.05±0.77 years and the control group 78.75±0.8 years. Compared to control groups,NMIs significantly increased body weight (SMD = 0.26, P = 0.03) and improved gait speed (SMD = 0.18, P = 0.03). Protein intake showed significance for interventions≤12 weeks (SMD = 1.04, P < 0.001). No significant differences in energy intake (SMD = 0.20, P = 0.60), but >12 weeks NMIs reduced energy intake (SMD = -0.73, P = 0.006). No significant differences in depressive symptoms, frailty scores, BMI, TUG, Handgrip Strength, or SPPB. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis underscores NMIs' potential benefits for frail and pre-frail older adults. Personalized, multidimensional interventions are recommended despite study limitations, emphasizing extended interventions and diverse assessments for holistic care.

Nutritional Management of Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Qualitative Exploration of Patients' and Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the experiences of lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in nutrition management and the problems in the process of implementing nutrition management for patients by healthcare professionals. METHODS: This is a qualitative descriptive study. Qualitative data were collected through semistructured interviews with lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (N = 16) and healthcare professionals (N = 24) from the oncology department at three tertiary grade A hospitals. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the patients' interviews: deficiency in nutritional management capabilities; barriers to implementing nutritional management; incentives to implementing nutritional management. Five themes emerged from the healthcare professionals' interviews: insufficient attention to nutritional management of lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; lack of standardization in nutritional management; inadequate support for nutritional management; weak multidisciplinary awareness; poor compliance from patients and their families. CONCLUSIONS: The nutritional management of lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy is a complicated and vital process that requires the joint efforts of healthcare professionals and patients. Formulating corresponding strategies from multiple perspectives is suggested to provide targeted nutritional guidance for patients. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE: This study can help nurses better understand the nutritional management needs and challenges of patients to provide individualized nutritional guidance to patients. Meanwhile, the study also found the existing problems of nutrition management in clinical work, which can help nurses to reflect on and better participate in the nutrition management of patients.

Combination of Parenteral Amino Acid Infusion and Intermittent Loading Exercise Ameliorates Progression of Postoperative Sarcopenia in Rat Model.

Postoperative sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes in hospitalized patients. However, few studies have focused on short-term postoperative sarcopenia. Furthermore, the influence of nutritional management using amino acids (AAs) comprising a peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) solution and its combination with exercise (Exc) is unclear. Hence, we established a postoperative sarcopenic rat model to evaluate the effects of parenteral AA infusion combined with Exc on skeletal muscles and investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in the amelioration of muscle atrophy. Male F344 rats underwent surgery followed by hindlimb suspension (HS) for 5 days. The rats were divided into AA (-), AA (+), AA (-)-Exc, and AA (+)-Exc groups. They were continuously administered a PPN solution with or without AA at 98 kcal/kg/day. The Exc groups were subjected to intermittent loading for 1 h per day. Postoperative sarcopenic rats exhibited decreased muscle strength and mass and an upregulated ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy-lysosome system, and fast-twitch fiber-related genes, especially in the AA (-) group. The AA (+)-Exc group exhibited attenuated decreased muscle strength, increased gastrocnemius mass, and a suppressed upregulation of muscle atrophy- and fast-twitch fiber-related genes. Therefore, parenteral AA infusion combined with Exc may be effective in preventing postoperative sarcopenia in hospitalized patients.

Perioperative nutritional assessment and management of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.

Malnutrition is a major issue in gastrointestinal perioperative situations, as only 40% of malnourished patients are finally treated. This literature review investigates the inconsistencies regarding the diagnostic approach to both preoperative and postoperative patients and the various underlying causes, as well as the efficiency of the various therapeutic regimens. A literature search was conducted until August 2023 in MEDLINE and Scopus. Clinical studies involving perioperative nutritional assessment in adult gastrointestinal surgery patients during the last 10 years were included in the present review. Finally, 19 articles were included in the study. Preoperative nutritional therapy is increasingly recognized as a key component of surgical care. Malnourished patients who are hospitalized and operated on, have significantly worse clinical results. Gastrointestinal postoperative malnutrition coexists with metabolic stress, as patients usually suffer from minor chronic inflammations; therefore, postoperative malnutrition is the result of a combination of the effects of inflammation and a lack of food intake. Postoperative malnutrition leads to prolonged hospitalizations and hospital complications and therefore the need to treat it is essential. There are many recognized tools for detecting malnutrition. However, all tools showed inconsistent results regarding their validity. Per os feeding after surgery, and dietary supplements when necessary, have been recommended. Therefore, it is very important to reduce malnutrition and define clear strategies towards that direction.

Odimet®: A Pioneering Tele-Health Tool to Empower Dietary Treatment and the Acute Management of Inborn Errors of Metabolism-An Assessment of Its Effectiveness during the COVID Pandemic.

Strict adherence to a diet is an essential pillar of long-term treatment for many inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs). Tools that educate patients about dietary management can positively condition adherence and prevent morbidity. We designed a free online dietary calculation program (Odimet®, version 2.1.) for IEMs patients in 2008, updated in 2022, that provides detailed information on the content of amino acids, protein, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in >3000 food products, including specific medical foods for IEM. We analyzed the statistics on visits to Odimet® to evaluate its usefulness for long-term dietary management during a 5-year period focusing on three periods: pre-pandemic (15 March 2018-14 March 2020); pandemic 1 (15 March 2020-14 March 2021); and pandemic 2 period (15 March 2021-15 March 2023), in 120 patients with the following distribution: 84 patients with phenylketonuria (PKU); 12 with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD); 11 with urea cycle disorders (UCDs); and 13 with classical galactosemia. The evolutionary levels of their specific metabolic markers were evaluated, showing that globally, both pediatric and adult patients maintain a good metabolic control, even during a pandemic (median levels of phenylalanine in pediatric PKU patients 213.4 µmol/L and 482.3 µmol/L in adults; of leucine in MSUD patients: 144.2 µmol/L; of glutamine in UCDs: 726.8 µmol/L; and of galactose 1-phosphate levels in galactosemia: 0.08 µmol/L). The proportion of patients using Odimet® ranges from 78-100%. An increase in the number of diets being calculated was observed during COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, 14,825 products have been introduced (3094 from the general database, and 11,731 added by users to their own profiles). In 2023 63 emergency dietary adjustments in the studied intoxication-type pathologies were calculated in Odimet®. Our results suggest that its regular use contributes to maintaining metabolic stability in IEMs patients, allowing them to adapt their menus to their lifestyle, and represents a powerful complementary tele-health tool which can be used to perform remote real-time dietary follow-up.

Development of standardized nursing terminology for the process documentation of patients with chronic kidney disease.

Introduction: European Nursing care Pathways (ENP) is a professional care language that utilizes software to map care processes and utilize the data for research purposes, process control, and personnel requirement calculations. However, there is a lack of internationally developed terminology systems and subset specifically designed for the nutritional management of CKD. The aim of this study was to create a subset of the standardized nursing terminology for nutrition management in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Materials and methods: According to the guidelines for subset development, four research steps were carried out: (i) Translation of version 3.2 of the ENP (chapter on kidney diseases) and understanding of the framework structure and coding rules of the ENP; (ii) Identification of relevant six-dimensional nursing terms; (iii) Creation of a framework for the subset; (iv) Review and validation by experts. Results: A subset for CKD nutritional care was created as part of this project, comprising 630 terms, with 17 causal relationships related to nursing diagnoses, 115 symptoms, 31 causes, 34 goals/outcomes, 420 intervention specifications and 13 resources, including newly developed care terms. All terms within the subset have been created using a six-step maintenance procedure and a clinical standard pathway for nutrition management in the SAPIM mode. Implications for nursing practice: This terminology subset can facilitate standardized care reports in CKD nutrition management, which is used to standardize nursing practice, quantify nursing, services, guidance on care decisions, promoting the exchange and use of CKD nutrition data and serve as a reference for the creation of standardized subset of nursing terminology in China.

Nutritional management of high-output ileostomies in paediatric patients is vital and more evidence-based guidelines are needed.

AIM: Paediatric patients with high-output ileostomies (HOI) face an elevated risk of complications. This study aimed to comprehensively review the existing literature and offer nutritional management recommendations for paediatric patients with an HOI. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant English or French language papers up to 31 June 2022. The emphasis was placed on studies involving paediatric ileostomy patients, but insights were obtained from adult literature and other intestinal failure pathologies when these were lacking. RESULTS: We identified 16 papers that addressed nutritional issues in paediatric ileostomy patients. Currently, no evidence supports a safe paediatric HOI threshold exceeding 20 mL/kg/day on two consecutive days. Paediatric HOI patients were at risk of dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, micronutrient deficiencies and growth failure. The primary dietary choice for neonates is bolus feeding with breastmilk. In older children, an enteral fluid restriction should be installed favouring isotonic or slightly hypotonic glucose-electrolyte solutions. A diet that is high in calories, complex carbohydrates and proteins, low in insoluble fibre and simple carbohydrates, and moderate in fat is recommended. CONCLUSION: Adequate nutritional management is crucial to prevent complications in children with an HOI. Further research is needed to establish more evidence-based guidelines.

Survey on Nutrition in Neurological Intensive Care Units (SONNIC)-A Cross-Sectional Survey among German-Speaking Neurointensivists on Medical Nutritional Therapy.

Medical nutritional therapy (MNT) in neurointensive care units (NICUs) is both particularly relevant and challenging due to prolonged analgosedation, immobilization, disorders of consciousness, and the high prevalence of dysphagia. Moreover, current guideline recommendations predominantly address the general intensive care unit (ICU) population, overlooking specific characteristics of neurological patients. We, therefore, conducted a web-based, cross-sectional survey for German-speaking neurointensivists mapping the clinical practices of MNT on NICUs to identify research gaps and common grounds for future clinical trials. A total of 25.9% (56/216) NICU representatives responded to our questionnaire. A total of 78.2% (43/55) were neurologist and 63% (34/54) held a leadership role. Overall, 80.4% (41/51) had established a standard operating procedure (SOP), largely based on the DGEM-Guideline (53.7%; 22/41), followed by the ESPEN-Guideline (14.6%; 6/41). Upon admission, 36% (18/50) conducted a risk stratification, with 83.3% primarily relying on past medical history (15/18) and clinical gestalt (15/18). Energy expenditure (EE) was measured or calculated by 75% (36/48), with 72.2% (26/36) using pragmatic weight-based equations. Indirect calorimetry was used by 19.4% (7/36). A total of 83.3% (30/36) used the patient's serum glucose level as the primary biomarker to monitor metabolic tolerance. SOPs regarding ICU-Acquired Weakness (ICUAW) were found in 8.9% (4/45) of respondents. Overall, guideline adherence was 47%. In summary, this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study systematically describing the currently applied concepts of MNT on NICUs. The data reveal great variations in the implementation of guideline recommendations, indicating the need for further research and tailored approaches to optimize nutritional therapy in neurointensive care settings.

Nutritional management of chyle leak after head and neck surgery: a systematic review and proposed protocol for management.

PURPOSE: Chyle leaks are a rare complication of neck surgery causing local damage, impairing healing and compromising free flaps. High output leaks can result in electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition. Nutritional management such as restricting the absorption of triglycerides is believed to reduce chyle, allowing spontaneous resolution of a leak. Dietary preparations and management can aid in reducing chyle production. There are no clear guidelines to aid nutritional decision-making in this complex scenario. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was carried out to identify studies evaluating nutritional management of chyle leaks in patients after neck dissections. RESULTS: Ten studies were identified evaluating the role of nutritional therapy in the management of patients with chyle leaks after neck dissections. The level of evidence was low. Several studies identified that low volume leaks (defined as < 1000 mls per day) often resolved by dietary management and other conservative measures. High volume leaks rarely resolved with conservative measures alone. Parenteral nutrition had an established role in this context. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited evidence to guide dietary restriction and introduction of oral diet in patients with chyle leak after major head and neck surgery. Based on available evidence, local guidelines for the nutritional management of patients identified with a chyle leak were produced and adopted by the Trust and the head and neck MDT. A national database for voluntary contribution of prospective data would help to generate better quality management protocols.

Oral diet management for carcinoma at the base of tongue with radiotherapy and chemotherapy associated dysphagia: a case report.

Introduction: Tongue cancer is one of the common malignancy of the head and neck, and directly impacts chewing, swallowing, and other eating activities. Based on the evidence-based guidelines and clinical management, this paper presents nutrition management experience of a patient with tongue cancer who had a dysphagia and feeding reflux while undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Methods: Nutritional risk screening and comprehensive nutritional assessment were performed based on the patient's medical history, and personalized nutritional programs were developed under the guidance of the clinical pharmaceutical consensus of parenteral nutrition and nutritional treatment guidelines for patients with tumors during radiotherapy. For the management of oral feeding, the patient's swallowing function was evaluated to manage oral feeding. Thickening powders were used to improve the consistency of the patient's food, which successfully achieved oral feeding of the patient. Results: The patient finally ate five meals a day by mouth, and energy requirements were met using industrialized nutritional supplements, and homogenized food was added in between the meals. The energy provided by enteral nutrition can reached approximately 60-75%. The patient's weight and albumin levels had increased significantly at the time of discharge. Discussion: The nutritional management of patients with dysphagia should be jointly managed by clinicians, nurses, nutritionists, and family members to effectively improve the quality of life (QOL) and nutritional status of patients. To ensure adequate nutritional supply, appropriate swallowing training may delay the deterioration of the chewing function and improve the eating experience of such patients.

Effects of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) on Growth and Body Composition Compared to Constitutionally Small Infants.

(1) Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with multiple morbidities including growth restriction and impaired neurodevelopment. Small for gestational age (SGA) is defined as a birth weight <10th percentile, regardless of the etiology. The term is commonly used as a proxy for IUGR, but it may represent a healthy constitutionally small infant. Differentiating between IUGR and constitutionally small infants is essential for the nutritional management. (2) Infants born at <37 weeks of gestation between 2017 and 2022, who underwent body composition measurement (FFM: fat-free mass; FM: fat mass) at term-equivalent age, were included in this study. Infants with IUGR and constitutionally small infants (SGA) were compared to infants appropriate for gestational age (AGA). (3) A total of 300 infants (AGA: n = 249; IUGR: n = 40; SGA: n = 11) were analyzed. FFM (p < 0.001) and weight growth velocity (p = 0.022) were significantly lower in IUGR compared to AGA infants, but equal in SGA and AGA infants. FM was not significantly different between all groups. (4) The FFM Z-score was significantly lower in IUGR compared to AGA infants (p = 0.017). Being born constitutionally small compared to AGA had no impact on growth and body composition. These data showed that early aggressive nutritional management is essential in IUGR infants to avoid impaired growth and loss of FFM.

Experiences and requirements in nutritional management of patients with esophageal cancer: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis.

PURPOSE: Nutritional management of patients with esophageal cancer is a significant issue. This systematic review aimed to comprehensively synthesize qualitative research evidence on the experiences and requirements in nutritional management from the perspective of patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies were conducted. Studies written in Chinese or English were retrieved from nine databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and SinoMed, from inception to December 23, 2022. After screening the titles, abstracts, and full texts, 19 articles were finally included for quality assessment and meta-synthesis. RESULTS: Three comprehensive themes were derived. These were dietary experiences (perception of symptoms and dietary behaviors), emotional experiences (negative and positive emotions), and social support (inappropriate social support and inadequate nutritional management). CONCLUSIONS: The experiences and requirements of esophageal cancer patients in terms of nutritional management during treatment and rehabilitation were reviewed and factors influencing nutritional management were discussed. The findings suggested that medical institutions should expedite the development of comprehensive nutritional management systems, create conducive nutritional environmental facilities, and establish interdisciplinary teams to implement personalized comprehensive interventional models for the management of patient nutrition. These steps would maximize the effectiveness of nutritional therapy, promote early patient recovery, and bridge the gap between healthcare professionals and patients in the understanding of nutritional management.

ARFID at 10 years: A Review of Medical, Nutritional and Psychological Evaluation and Management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a diagnostic term that was established 10 years ago to describe those patients with an eating disorder, mostly children and adolescents, who have poor nutrition that is not due to body image or weight concerns. This article reviews the diagnosis and subtypes of ARFID, as well as the medical, nutritional and psychological principles of evaluation and management of the disorder. RECENT FINDINGS: In the past 10 years, clinicians have refined their approaches to managing the two major subtypes of ARFID: (1) those patients with a longer-term restriction in the amount and/or variety of the foods they eat, and (2) those patients with a shorter-term decrease in eating because of fear of aversive consequences such as vomiting, choking, GI symptoms or an allergic reaction to food. In that same time, the field of psychology has been developing evidence-based approaches to management of ARFID in each of its manifestations. Each patient with ARFID presents with a unique set of medical, nutritional and psychological factors that requires an individualized and multi-disciplinary approach in the management of this difficult to treat disorder.

Malnutrition in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of malnutrition and analyzed the related factors among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS: We included 108 patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy from the oncology and thoracic surgery departments of a comprehensive medical center in Qingdao between January 2019 and June 2020. We used the Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 tool (NRS-2002) to evaluate their nutritional status during radiotherapy. We analyzed the basic sociodemographic information and laboratory indicators of the respondents to examine the impact of these factors on nutritional status. RESULTS: In the 108 patients that we studied, those aged ≥65 years had a significantly higher nutritional risk when compared to patients <65 years of age (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed that a late tumor stage (P = 0.039), the neck being the site of radiotherapy (P = 0.009), the presence of diabetes (P < 0.001), and the presence of anxiety and depression (P = 0.002) were associated with nutritional risks for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified a late tumor stage, the neck being the radiotherapy site, and combined anxiety and depression as nutritional risk factors in such patients. CONCLUSION: We found a high incidence of malnutrition in patients undergoing radiotherapy for HNC; this highlights the importance of early identification of patients at risk and evaluation of related risk factors to enhance the efficacy of nutritional interventions.

The Integral Role of Diets Including Natural Products to Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Narrative Review.

Genetic and environmental factors including lifestyle are thought to play a key role in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is evidence that diet can enhance the inflammatory response in genetically predisposed individuals. On the other hand, certain types of diets can alleviate RA symptoms due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Also, natural compounds with potential effectiveness in RA management belong to different chemical classes such as flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids, and alkaloids with their antioxidant characteristics as well as probiotics. The nutritional approaches to prevent or extenuate the disease progress were examined in this narrative review which was conducted using the PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases and conforms to the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines. Mediterranean and vegan diets equally have been shown to exhibit positive effects on RA as the consumption of dietary fiber, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds from fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds are high. Whereas Mediterranean diet additionally includes beneficial nutrients of animal origin such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish and seafood, patients on vegan diet need to be monitored closely for intake of all critical nutrients. Certain calorie restrictions and intermittent fasting diets have been shown to benefit RA patients although there is an obvious need for further studies to establish solid evidence-based recommendations and guidelines. The research data available strongly suggest that dietary approaches with anti-inflammatory properties may help delay the onset of RA and/or improve symptoms and thus nutrition should be routinely addressed to facilitate management of the disease.

Gut dysmotility in children with neurological impairment: the nutritional management.

Intestinal motility disorders represent a frequent problem in children with neurological impairment. These conditions are characterized by abnormal movements of the gut, which can result in symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, and vomiting. The underlying mechanisms leading to dysmotility are various, and the clinical manifestations are often nonspecific. Nutritional management is an important aspect of care for children with gut dysmotility, as it can help to improve their quality of life. Oral feeding, when safe and in the absence of risk of ingestion or severe dysphagia, should always be encouraged. When oral nutrition is insufficient or potentially harmful, it is necessary to switch to an enteral by tube or parenteral nutrition before the onset of malnutrition. In most cases, children with severe gut dysmotility may require feeding via a permanent gastrostomy tube to ensure adequate nutrition and hydration. Drugs may be necessary to help manage gut dysmotility, such as laxatives, anticholinergics and prokinetic agents. Nutritional management of patients with neurological impairment often requires an individualized care plan to optimize growth and nutrition and to improve overall health outcomes. This review tries to sum up most significant neurogenetic and neurometabolic disorders associated with gut dysmotility that may require a specific multidisciplinary care, identifying a proposal of nutritional and medical management.

Effects of Continuous Nutrition Care on Nutritional Status and Dietary Habits of Patients With Colorectal Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Surgery.

Patients with colorectal cancer may experience symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and anorexia, during surgery and chemotherapy, which can increase the risk of malnutrition. In addition, dietary habits play a key role in the onset of colorectal cancer; therefore, it is necessary to improve dietary habits to prevent recurrence during treatment after diagnosis. In this study, a clinical nutritionist conducted 4 interviews for patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and scheduled for colectomy: before surgery, after surgery, 1st chemotherapy, and 2nd chemotherapy, and provided nutrition care for each treatment course to determine its effects on nutrition status and disease prognosis. Significant weight loss but no decrease in muscle mass was observed during treatment. Body fat mass, although not statistically significant, showed a decreasing tendency. The percentage of people who responded 'yes' to the below items increased after compared to before receiving nutrition education: 'I eat meat or eggs more than 5 times a week,' 'I eat seafood at least three times a week,' 'I eat vegetables at every meal,' 'I eat fruits every day,' and 'I eat milk or dairy products every day.' These results indicate that the patients changed their dietary habit from a monotonous eating pattern to a pattern of consuming various food groups after receiving nutrition education. These results suggest that continuous nutrition care by clinical dietitians, according to the patient's treatment process, can help improve the patient's nutritional status and establish healthy eating habits.

The application of the county medical community HCH model in postoperative nutrition management for patients with advanced gastrointestinal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application effect of the county medical community Hospital-Community health service organization-Home (HCH) model in nutritional management of patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer after surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. A total of 100 postoperative malnutrition patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignant tumors admitted to Lanxi People's Hospital from January 2022 to August 2022 were selected as subjects. All patients were divided into an observation group (n=50) or control group (n=50) according to the different methods of intervention. Patients in the observation group underwent care according to our county medical community HCH model, while those in the control group received routine perioperative nutrition management. The nutritional risk screening scores (NRS2002), Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) scores, body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), upper arm circumference (AC); a well as levels of serum albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PA), transferrin (TRF), retinol binding protein (RBP), creatinine (Cr) and Free fatty acid (FFA); levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin A (IgA); and the levels of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca+) and lactic acid, and quality of life were recorded and compared between two groups. RESULTS: Compared with those before intervention, NRS2002 scores, PG-SGA score, BMI, TSF and AC after intervention were significantly improved in both groups. Compared with those after intervention in the control group, the NRS2002 score, PG-SGA score, BMI, TSF and AC of the patients in the observation group were significantly improved (all P<0.001). Compared with those before intervention, the levels of ALB, PA, TRF, RBP, Cr, FFA, IgG, IgM and IgA in the two groups were significantly higher after intervention. The levels of ALB, PA, TRF, RBP, Cr, FFA, IgG, IgM and IgA after intervention in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with those before management, the levels of Na+, K+ and lactic acid in the two groups were significantly decreased and the level of Ca+ was significantly increased after intervention. Compared with those after intervention in the control group, the patients in the observation group had significantly lower levels of Na+, K+ and lactic acid, and higher levels of Ca+ (all P<0.05). Compared with those before intervention, the scores of mental status, appetite, sleep quality, daily life and family understanding and cooperation in patients from the two groups after intervention were significantly higher. Compared with those after intervention in the control group, the patients in the observation group had significantly higher scores of life quality (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The county medical community HCH model has a good effect in the nutritional management of patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer surgery. The HCH model can effectively improve the nutritional status, enhance the immune function, and increase the quality of life. Thus it is worthy of clinical application.

Effect of the hospital-community-family (HCF) nutritional management on patients with esophageal and head and neck cancers undergoing radiotherapy: a randomized control trial.

Background: Malnutrition is particularly common in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancers (HNC) and esophageal cancers (EC). Proper nutritional management plays an important role in improving the nutritional status and reducing complications in patients undergoing radiotherapy for malignancy. With most nutrition studies limited to the nutritional management of patients during hospitalization or after discharge, there is a lack of research evidence on the nutritional management of patients in combination with out-of-hospital. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the hospital-community-family (HCF) nutritional management model on nutritional status and radiotherapy complications in EC and HNC radiotherapy patients. Methods: Between October 2019 and October 2021, a total of 116 EC and HNC radiotherapy patients were randomized into control group (conventional nutritional support) and experimental group (HCF-model nutritional management), and assessed weekly for 3 months. The primary endpoint was the patient's Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002) score, Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), weight change, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score from baseline level to 3 months after the end of treatment. The secondary endpoints were the incidence of albumin, hemoglobin, hematological parameters, and radiotherapy complications. Results: A total of 95 patients (47 in the control group and 48 in the experimental group) completed the study. At 3 months after treatment, NRS2002 (P=0.028) and PG-SGA (P=0.022) decreased, and albumin was higher (P=0.001) than at the beginning of treatment in HCF group. Weight decreased (P<0.001) and PG-SGA was higher after 3 months of treatment (P=0.012) in the control group. PG-SGA (P<0.001), NRS2002 (P<0.001), and ECOG (P=0.006) in the HCF group at the end of the 3-month treatment period were lower in the conventional group (P<0.05). The incidence of radiation mucositis (P=0.018)and radiation dermatitis (P=0.028) in the HCF nutrition management group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Conclusions: HCF-model nutritional management significantly improved the nutritional status and reduced the incidence and severity of radiation mucositis and dermatitis for EC and HNC radiotherapy patients. These findings suggest that HCF-model nutritional management is a promising nutritional management model. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ChiCTR2300068399.