Nutritional intervention during maxillomandibular fixation of jaw fractures prevents weight loss and improves quality of life

Maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) for the management of jaw fractures leads to compromised nutritional intake and consequent weight loss and poor quality of life (QoL). The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based dietary plan to prevent weight loss, and its effect on the QoL of patients who underwent four weeks of MMF for the treatment of maxillofacial fractures. A total of 50 patients were randomised into nutritional intervention (Group1) and non-intervention groups (Group 2). Patients in Group1 were counselled by a dietitian and given a diet plan. Patients in Group 2 were advised to take a liquid diet of their own choice in the form of shakes, juices, and milk, along with protein supplements. Patients in Group1 lost significantly less weight than those in Group 2 (p=0.001) at week four of follow up. Group1 patients had significantly better oral health-related QoL in the ‘physical pain’ domain during the two weeks of MMF, and in the ‘physical discomfort’ and ‘psychological disability’ domains two weeks after the release of MMF. They had significantly better nutrition-related QoL in all the domains during the two weeks of MMF and, except for the ‘physical’ domain, also during the two weeks after its release. Individual home-based diet plans effectively helped the patients maintain their weight and improved QoL.     

Irritable bowel syndrome in Asia: Pathogenesis,natural history,epidemiology, and management

Historically, the epidemiology of gastrointestinal diseases in Asia was different from that in Western countries. Early studies suggested a low prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in Asia. As the diagnosis of IBS is symptom‐based and as symptom perception, expression, and interpretation are influenced by sociocultural perspectives including language, the presentation of IBS is expected to vary in different communities. Furthermore, the pathogenesis is multifactorial with psychosocial (stress, illness, behavior, and diet) and biological (infection, gut microbiota, and immune activation) variables interacting, and so, the present study can anticipate that the development of IBS will vary in different environments. In recognition of this aspect of functional gastrointestinal disorders, the recently published Rome IV documents have provided greater focus on cross‐cultural factors. In this review, the present study seeks to highlight Asian perspectives by identifying historical trends and recent publications from the region and comparing these with the observations from Western societies.     

Imatinib accelerates progenitor cell‐mediated liver regeneration in choline‐deficient ethionine‐supplemented diet‐fed mice

Severe chronic hepatic injury can induce complex reparative processes. Ductular reaction and the appearance of small hepatocytes are standard components of this response, which is thought to have both adverse (e.g. fibrosis, carcinogenesis) and beneficial (regeneration) consequences. This complex tissue reaction is regulated by orchestrated cytokine action. We have investigated the influence of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib on a regenerative process. Ductular reaction was induced in mice by the widely used choline‐deficient ethionine‐supplemented diet (CDE). Test animals were treated daily with imatinib. After 6 weeks of treatment, imatinib successfully reduced the extent of ductular reaction and fibrosis in the CDE model. Furthermore, the number of small hepatocytes increased, and these cells had high proliferative activity, were positive for hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 and expressed high levels of albumin and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha. The overall functional zonality of the hepatic parenchyma (cytochrome P450 2E1 and glucose 6 phosphatase activity; endogenous biotin content) was maintained. The expression of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor beta, which is the major target of imatinib, was downregulated. The anti‐fibrotic activity of imatinib has already been reported in several experimental models. Additionally, in the CDE model imatinib was able to enhance regeneration and preserve the functional arrangement of hepatic lobules. These results suggest that imatinib might promote the recovery of the liver following parenchymal injury through the inhibition of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor beta.     

Physical activity as a proxy to ameliorate inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease at high cardiovascular risk

While the beneficial impact of physical activity has been ascertained in a variety of pathological scenarios, including diabetes and low-grade systemic inflammation, its potential remains still putative for periodontal health. Periodontal disease has been associated with inflammatory systemic alterations, which share a common denominator with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Physical exercise, along with nutritional counseling, is a cornerstone in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes, also able to reduce the prevalence of periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk. In addition, considering the higher incidence of periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy controls, the fascinating research question would be whether physical activity could relieve the inflammatory pressure exerted by the combination of these two diseases. This multi-disciplinary viewpoint discusses available literature in order to argument the hypothesis of a “three–way relationship” linking diabetes, periodontitis, and physical activity.     

Effects of a Texture-Modified,Enriched, and Reshaped Diet on Dietary Intake and Body Weight of Nursing Home Residents with Chewing and/or Swallowing Problems: An Enable Study

Abstract

This proof-of-concept study investigated the effects of an innovative nutrition concept, comprising texture modification, enrichment, and reshaping, on dietary intake and nutritional status of 16 nursing home residents with chewing and/or swallowing problems (mean age 86.5?±?7.4 years) in a pre-test post-test design. During 6?weeks with usual texture-modified diet (P1) energy and protein intake were constant. After the implementation of the innovative diet, daily energy intake increased by 204.2 (median) [interquartile range 95.8–444.4] kcal (P?=?0.011), and protein intake by 18.3 [9.9–26.3] g (P?<?0.001) and remained constant during the following 6?weeks (P2). Body weight decreased during P1 (–0.5 [–1.4 to 0.2] kg), and increased during P2 (+1.1 [0.0 to 1.7] kg, P?=?0.004). The present nutrition concept turned out to be a promising strategy for nutritional management of chewing and/or swallowing problems, however, the effects need to be confirmed in larger studies.     

Comparative study between atorvastatin and losartan on high fat diet‐induced type 2 diabetes mellitus in rats

Obesity is often associated with chronic inflammatory state which contributes to the development of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study investigated the effects of single and combined administration of atorvastatin (ATOR, lipid‐lowering drug) and losartan (LOS, angiotensin receptor antagonist) on metabolic disorders and inflammatory status that are implicated in the development of T2DM with the use of pioglitazone (PIO) as a standard antidiabetic drug. T2DM was induced in male rats by high‐fat diet (HFD) feeding for 16 weeks. Oral administrations of ATOR (10 mg/kg), LOS (20 mg/kg), PIO (3 mg/kg), their binary combinations, or vehicle were started in the last 4 weeks. Fasting serum glucose, oral glucose tolerance, fasting serum insulin, IR, serum lipid profile, serum TNF‐α and body composition index were determined. Results showed that all drugs and their combinations had positive impact effect on all measured parameters, and better results were achieved from binary drug combinations than administration of each drug alone. Combination of PIO with either ATOR or LOS provided better improvements on T2DM‐associated metabolic abnormalities and inflammatory status with respect to each drug alone. However, the most pronounced effects of drugs and their combinations regarding the above parameters were attributed to LOS + PIO combination. In conclusion, this study indicates that combination of ATOR + PIO and, in particular, LOS + PIO can be used as promising effective therapies in the management of HFD‐induced T2DM. This concept may be attributed to the combined effects of the respective monotherapies to improve lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and TNF‐α level.     

Antidepressant Use is Associated with Increased Energy Intake and Similar Levels of Physical Activity

Antidepressants have been associated with weight gain, but the causes are unclear. The aims of this study were to assess the association of antidepressant use with energy intake, macronutrient diet composition, and physical activity. We used data on medication use, energy intake, diet composition, and physical activity for 3073 eligible adults from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Potential confounding variables, including depression symptoms, were included in the models assessing energy intake, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Antidepressant users reported consuming an additional (mean ± S.E.) 215 ± 73 kcal/day compared to non-users (p = 0.01). There were no differences in percent calories from sugar, fat, or alcohol between the two groups. Antidepressant users had similar frequencies of walking or biking, engaging in muscle-strengthening activities, and engaging in moderate or vigorous physical activity. Antidepressant users were more likely to use a computer for ≥2 h/day (OR 1.77; 95% CI: 1.09–2.90), but TV watching was similar between the two groups. These results suggest increased energy intake and sedentary behavior may contribute to weight gain associated with antidepressant use. Focusing on limiting food intake and sedentary behaviors may be important in mitigating the weight gain associated with antidepressant use.     

Hypolipidemic effect of MeOH extract of Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam in hyperlipidemia induced by Triton WR-1339 and high cholesterol diet in rats

Hyperlipidemia has been implicated in atherosclerosis which is the leading cause of death among world population and resulting from lipid metabolic changes is a major cause of atherosclerosis. Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam belongs to Bambusaceae is the stem of Phyllostachys nigra (Lodd.) Munro var. henonis (Bean) Stapf of Phyllostachys bambusoides Siebold et Zuccarini, the perennial evergreen tree. The green middle layer of stem is dried in string-shape I shadow after the bark had been removed. In this study, the effects of middle layer of PN, PB, PP, and BCT on rat with hyperlipidemia, induced by Triton WR-1339 and high cholesterol diet were investigated. We measured plasma levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol as measure of its hyperlipidemic effects. As a result, all of the Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam was reduced total cholesterol, LDL. Inhibition rate on LDL-oxidation, hACAT-1, and hACAT-2 was increased dose-dependently. Therefore all of the Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam is a good candidate for the treatment on Triton WR-1339 and high cholesterol diet-induced blood circulatory disorders, obesity, and hyperlipidemia.