Pureed by gastrostomy tube diet improves gagging and retching in children with fundoplication

Background: Children with feeding disorders requiring Nissen fundoplication may develop gagging and retching following gastrostomy feedings. We developed a “pureed by gastrostomy tube” (PBGT) diet in an attempt to treat these symptoms and provide adequate nutrition and hydration. Methods: Children post– fundoplication surgery with symptoms of gagging and retching with gastrostomy feedings were selected from our interdisciplinary feeding team. An individualized PBGT diet was designed to meet the child's nutrition goals. The child's weight gain was recorded at each follow‐up visit. A telephone survey was performed to determine parents' perceptions of the child's symptoms and oral feeding tolerance. Results: Thirty‐three children (mean age, 34.2 months) participated in the trial. Average weight gain on the PBGT diet was 6.2 g/d. Seventeen children (52%) were reported to have a 76%–100% reduction in gagging and retching. Twenty‐four children (73%) were reported to have a ≥50% decrease in symptoms. No child had worsened symptoms on the PBGT diet. Nineteen children (57%) were reported to have an increase in oral intake on the PBGT diet. Conclusions: A PBGT diet is an effective means of providing nutrition to children with feeding disorders. In children post–fundoplication surgery, a PBGT diet may decrease gagging and retching behaviors.     

Attenuation of brain mitochondria oxidative damage by Albizia julibrissin Durazz: neuroprotective and antiemetic effects

Medicinal plants, as new drugs, are considered for treatment of insomnia, anxiety, depression, confusion, nausea, and vomiting symptoms. The current study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective and antiemetic effects of Albizia. julibrissin Durazz. flower extract in the chickens. Emesis was induced by copper sulfate and ipecac (60 and 600?mg/kg, orally, respectively) and the methanolic extract (50, 100, and 200?mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.). Mitochondrial function, lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl (PC) content, and catalase activity as biomarkers of oxidative damage were evaluated in the brain mitochondria. All doses of extract showed significant (p?<?0.001) antiemetic activity against induced emesis by copper sulfate and ipecac. Brain mitochondria function (by 50, 100, and 200?mg/kg of extract) were increased 48%, 85%, and 90% against emesis induced by ipecac and 32%, 18%, and 24% against emesis induced by copper sulfate, respectively. LPO and PC contents were significantly decreased after the administration of extract in emesis induced by copper sulfate and ipecac. A significant decrease (p?<?0.01) of CAT activity was observed in the extract (200?mg/kg) group in emesis induced by copper sulfate in chickens brain mitochondria. The present study suggests that the extract had antiemetic effects against emesis induced by copper sulfate and ipecac in young chickens via peripheral and central mechanisms. Neuroprotective effect of the extract could be due to the increase in bioactive compounds, plasma antioxidants, or direct free radical scavenging that could prevent lipid and protein alteration and impede the formation of oxidative damage.