Reduced sexual dimorphism in upper arm muscle circumference associated with protein-deficient diet in a South American population

Animal experiments have demonstrated that individuals exhibit differing tendencies to arrest growth and resorb muscle tissue under nutritional stress. Since placental and adrenocortical hormones are active in promoting muscle tissue resorption, sex differences may exist. In order to identify such sex differences, the upper arm circumferences of 362 individuals, aged one to 60 years, living in an area of chronic protein-calorie malnutrition were compared by age and sex with published data collected from U.S. and highland Peruvian populations. Sexual dimorphism for arm muscle circumference in the malnourished population is less than in U.S. samples of comparable age-categories. The highland population is closer to U.S. samples in the degree of dimorphism. The reduction in muscle circumference of males in the malnourished population appears to be the cause of the comparatively greater similarity of the sexes where protein-calorie malnutrition is experienced from infancy through adolescence. High muscle relief and excellent tonus in these same males indicate that reduced muscle circumference is not the result of flaccidity or higher ratios of compressible fat to muscle tissue. Reduction of muscle tissue in undernourished males is a reduction in total metabolic demand. Such reductions are adaptive in areas of chronic nutritional stress.     

ACE2 – From the renin–angiotensin system to gut microbiota and malnutrition

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is a complex network that regulates blood pressure, electrolyte and fluid homeostasis, as well as the function of several organs. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was identified as an enzyme that negatively regulates the RAS by converting Ang II, the main bioactive molecule of the RAS, to Ang 1–7. Thus, ACE2 counteracts the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) which generates Ang II from Ang I. ACE and ACE2 have been implicated in several pathologies such as cardiovascular and renal disease or acute lung injury. In addition, ACE2 has functions independent of the RAS: ACE2 is the receptor for the SARS coronavirus and ACE2 is essential for expression of neutral amino acid transporters in the gut. In this context, ACE2 modulates innate immunity and influences the composition of the gut microbiota, which can explain diarrhea and intestinal inflammation observed in Hartnup disorder, Pellagra, or under conditions of severe malnutrition. Here we review and discuss the diverse functions of ACE2 and its relevance to human pathologies.     

Malnutrition and cachexia in patients with head and neck cancer treated with (chemo)radiotherapy

AimTo highlight the problems associated with nutrition that occur in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).BackgroundSCCHN is associated with weight loss before, during and after radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Because of serious consequences of malnutrition and cachexia on treatment outcome, mortality, morbidity, and quality of life, it is important to identify SCCHN patients with increased risk for the development of malnutrition and cachexia.Materials and methodsCritical review of the literature.ResultsThis review describes pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition and cancer cachexia. Treatment of malnutrition and cancer cachexia includes nutritional interventions and pharmacological therapy. Advantages and disadvantages of different nutritional interventions and their effect on the nutritional status, quality of life and specific oncological treatment are presented.ConclusionsNutritional management is an essential part of care of these patients, including early screening, assessment of nutritional status and appropriate intervention.     

Macro shocks and micro outcomes: child nutrition during Indonesia’s crisis

A survey of households in rural Java is used to assess the nutritional impact of Indonesia's drought and financial crisis of 1997/1998. A time-age-cohort decomposition reveals significant nutritional impacts. However, child weight-for-age (WAZ) remained constant throughout the crisis, despite rapid increases in food prices and the consequent household consumption shock. The evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that within households, mothers buffered children's caloric intake, resulting in increased maternal wasting. However, reductions in the consumption of high-quality foods further resulted in increased prevalence of anemia for both mothers and children. The combined effects were particularly severe for cohorts conceived and weaned during the crisis.     

Consensus statement understanding health and malnutrition through a systems approach: the ENOUGH program for early life

Nutrition research, like most biomedical disciplines, adopted and often uses experimental approaches based on Beadle and Tatum’s one gene—one polypeptide hypothesis, thereby reducing biological processes to single reactions or pathways. Systems thinking is needed to understand the complexity of health and disease processes requiring measurements of physiological processes, as well as environmental and social factors, which may alter the expression of genetic information. Analysis of physiological processes with omics technologies to assess systems’ responses has only become available over the past decade and remains costly. Studies of environmental and social conditions known to alter health are often not connected to biomedical research. While these facts are widely accepted, developing and conducting comprehensive research programs for health are often beyond financial and human resources of single research groups. We propose a new research program on essential nutrients for optimal underpinning of growth and health (ENOUGH) that will use systems approaches with more comprehensive measurements and biostatistical analysis of the many biological and environmental factors that influence undernutrition. Creating a knowledge base for nutrition and health is a necessary first step toward developing solutions targeted to different populations in diverse social and physical environments for the two billion undernourished people in developed and developing economies.     

49例肝硬化患者营养不良的相关因素分析

目的:探讨肝硬化患者营养不良的相关因素。方法:已确诊49例肝硬化住院患者空腹测血常规、血生化、肝纤维化、血凝分析、微量元素测定、尿常规,及人体测量学指标:身高、体重(weight)、上臂围(Mid-upperarmcir cumference,AC)、上臂肌围(Mid-upper arm muscle circumference,AMC)、肱三头肌皮褶厚度(Triceps skin fold thickness,TSF)、髂骨上皮褶厚度(Ilium skin fold thickness,ISF)、腓肠肌围((Gastrocnemius muscle circumference,GC),计算体重指数(Body mass index,BMI)、Pignete指数、比胸围(Ratio of Chest circumference and body Height,C/H)、Rohrer指数、Vervaeck指数等指标110项,采用主观全面营养评价法(Subjective global assessment,SGA)进行营养评估。结果:计量资料应用t检验、计数资料应用X2检验进行单因素分析,筛选出与肝硬化营养不良有关的因素26项,纳入Logistic回归向前逐步选择法(似然比)行多因素分析,GC、AC、ISF、阴离子间隙(AG)4项指标的降低与肝硬化患者营养不良的发生有关系。结论:在采用SGA法评估肝硬化患者营养状况时,应注意GC、AC、ISF及AG的变化。     

肺癌住院患者营养不良风险调查及其影响因素分析

摘要 目的：肺癌住院患者营养不良风险调查及其影响因素分析。方法：选择2015年2月至2020年1月期间我院诊治的125例肺癌住院患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。根据患者的营养状态评估结果将其分为81例营养不良组和44例营养良好组。比较两组患者的人口学资料和临床资料,采用多因素Logistic回归分析营养不良发生的影响因素。结果：营养不良患者占比64.80%（81/125）。与营养良好组相比,营养不良组年收入≥50000元患者比例明显下降（P<0.05）,营养不良组体质量指数（BMI）≤22 kg/m²患者比例、肿瘤分期III~Ⅳ期+广泛期患者比例以及肿瘤低分化患者比例明显升高,血清白蛋白水平和淋巴细胞绝对值（LYM）明显下降（P<0.05）。经多因素Logistic回归分析显示肿瘤分期III~Ⅳ期+广泛期以及肿瘤低分化是肺癌住院患者营养不良的危险因素（OR=1.743、1.812,P<0.05）,年收入≥50000元、BMI>22kg/m²、白蛋白水平≥29.55 g/L和LYM≥2.47×10⁹/L是肺癌住院患者营养不良的保护因素（OR=0.487、0.502、0.453、0.731,P<0.05）。结论：肺癌住院患者营养不良风险较高,年收入情况、BMI、肿瘤分期、分化程度、白蛋白水平以及LYM均是肺癌住院患者营养不良风险的影响因素,对上述指标进行监测有利于提前预测营养不良的发生,从而为预防肺癌住院患者营养不良的发生提供指导。     

调理脾胃法治疗维持性血透患者营养不良的报告

目的:探讨调理脾胃法治疗维持性血透患者营养不良的效果.方法:40例维持性血透患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,两组在对症处理相同、血透相关因素一致条件下进行维持血透治疗,治疗组同时根据辨证分型服用调理脾胃中药,疗程3个月.结果:与本组治疗前相比较,治疗后的各项生化指标明显提高(P<0.01),蛋白分解率也较治疗前提高(P<0.05),SGA分级好转(P<0.01),临床常见症状体征积分随治疗时间延长呈下降趋势(P(0.05);治疗组与对照组治疗后的各项生化指标、蛋白分解率、SGA分级及临床常见症状体征积分等差异均具有显著性(P<0.05).结论:中药调理脾胃法可以改善维持性血透患者营养不良状况.     

Effects of benzo[a]pyrene on tissue activities of metabolizing enzymes and antioxidant system in normal and protein-malnourished rats

The effects of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on some drug-metabolizing and antioxidant systems in liver, lung, and stomach were investigated in normal and protein malnutrition (PM) rats. PM significantly inhibited tissue glutathione (GSH) content and increased hepatic lipid peroxidation. Cytochrome P450 isoform CYP1A1 was significantly increased in various tissues (42-73%). Also, lung glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was significantly decreased (19%) in PM rats. On the other hand, B[a]P significantly induced tissue GSH of control and PM rats. Also, hepatic lipid peroxidation were significantly increased in control rats treated with B[a]P. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was decreased by B[a]P treatment in PM rat stomach. B[a]P significantly induced both quinone reductase (QR) (in all tissues) and hepatic GST of control and PM rats. GST activity in PM rat liver was significantly higher than that of control rat liver after B[a]P treatment. Also, B[a]P induced hepatic CYP1A1 by 32-fold and 27-fold (P < or = 0.05) in control and PM rats, respectively. Stomach and hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities were significantly decreased (34%) and increased (74%), respectively by B[a]P in PM rats. The results suggest that PM status has a modifying effect on the response of some antioxidant and metabolizing systems to a well-known carcinogen risk.     

Growth status of disadvantaged urban Guatemalan children of a resettled community

This paper reports the physical growth and body composition from the first year of longitudinal study of 519 Guatemalan children, and their families, from a disadvantaged urban community consisting largely of refugees of the 1976 earthquake. Four cohorts are described, composed of children of 1,3,5, and 7 years at examination. The children are smaller, weigh less, and have reduced fat stores compared either to NCHS reference data or to upper SES Guatemalan children. Stature (or length) and head circumference deviate more from reference data than do triceps or upper arm muscle circumference. Greater deviations are found in the linear dimensions of males than of females. These children are the smallest yet described from Guatemala City, though they are slightly larger than available rural samples. This suggests a continuum of environmental effects acting upon the growth of children of differing socioeconomic levels.