Nutritional factors affecting serum phenylalanine concentration during pregnancy for identical twin mothers with phenylketonuria

The effect of energy, protein, fat, and phenylalanine on serum phenylalanine concentrations during pregnancy for a set of identical twins with phenylketonuria (PKU) was examined. Blood samples were collected one to two times per week. The subjects completed a 3-d food record prior to each blood collection. The effect of the factors on serum phenylalanine levels was evaluated statistically using time-series analysis. Dietary intakes of the nutrients evaluated were similar for the subjects. For one subject, there were highly significant effects of energy, protein, and fat on serum phenylalanine levels. In contrast, these nutrients had no significant effect on serum phenylalanine for the other subject. Dietary phenylalanine had no significant effect on serum phenylalanine for either twin. Conclusions: There was no effect of phenylalanine intake and no consistent effect of energy, protein, or fat on serum phenylalanine. Other dietary or environmental factors or a combination of factors may impact serum phenylalanine levels of pregnant women with PKU.     

A painful limp

We describe a healthy 18-month-old child who developed a painful limp, without a history of trauma or fever. The initial laboratory investigations showed normal results but the radiological findings were suggestive of scurvy. Diagnosis was confirmed by blood tests and by a rapid recovery following replacement therapy.     

Growth and nutrition of Hong Kong children aged 0-7 years

OBJECTIVE: To study the early dietary practices in relation to growth of Hong Kong children from birth to 7 years. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and seventy-three full-term Hong Kong Chinese babies were recruited at birth and were followed up for anthropometric measurements using standardized methods and dietary assessment using a combination of dietary history, 24 h recall and food frequency. At 7 years, 125 children remained in the study. RESULTS: Mean (SD) birthweight was 3.3 (0.38) kg for boys and 3.1 (0.38) kg for girls. Mean (SD) weight at 7 years was 22.4 (4.2) kg for boys and 21.1 (3.7) kg for girls, and mean (SD) height was 120.3 (4.8) cm for boys and 119.8 (5.1) cm for girls. Hong Kong children were lighter and shorter than Australian children and the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) references, but the magnitude is less than one standard deviation score. Mean weight and height of Hong Kong children were lower compared to Caucasian and Beijing children, with more obvious differences between 1 and 5 years. At 1 year, mean (SD) daily energy intake was 98 (24) kcal/kg/day for boys and 100 (26) kcal/kg/day for girls. By 7 years, it decreased to 82 (18) kcal/kg/day for boys and 73 (22) kcal/kg/day for girls. Between 2 to 4 years of age the energy intake of studied children were slightly lower than the Australian and Finnish children, but the protein intake was higher. Percentage of fat contributing to total daily energy intake was lower throughout at a level of 30%. Such differences in diet reflect a lower consumption of milk fat, higher consumption of meat and lower level of physical activity in Hong Kong children. Intakes of calcium, iron and vitamin C all reached 60% or above of US recommended daily allowance. CONCLUSIONS: The smaller body build of Chinese compared to Caucasians cannot be explained by dietary differences. The diet of Hong Kong children is changing to one which is more Westernized with a higher consumption of animal products.     

A randomized trial of enteral feeding volumes in infants born before 30 weeks' gestation

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of two volumes of enteral feeds on postnatal growth in infants born before 30 weeks gestation. METHODOLOGY: Fifty-four infants, less than 30 weeks gestational age, who reached full enteral feeds were randomized to remain on 150 mL/kg per day (150 group) or increase to 200 mL/kg per day (200 group). The primary outcome measure was growth at 35 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in demographic or clinical parameters between the study groups at commencement of the study, although there was a trend for infants in the 150 group to be lighter (895 g vs 1020 g, P = 0.27). Milk intakes were increased in 43% of the infants in the 150 group, whereas 54% of the infants in the 200 group required reduced intakes. Infants in the 200 group had greater daily weight gains (16.7 g/kg per day vs 15.2 g/kg per day, P = 0.047) and at 35 weeks CGA were heavier (2020 g vs 1885 g, P = 0.014) and had a greater arm fat area (282 mm2 vs 218 mm2, P = 0.009). There was no difference in length or head circumference at 35 weeks CGA, and no difference in any growth parameter at 1 year of age. Morbidity was not different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The individual milk volume requirements for adequate weight gain without significant adverse effects vary between 150 and 200 mL/kg per day in extremely premature infants. For many infants in both groups, the assigned target volume was not appropriate. Increased milk intakes (and therefore higher caloric and mineral intakes) are associated with increased daily weight gains and a greater weight at 35 weeks CGA. The weight gain may be due to an increase in fat deposition.     

Clinical outcomes of three Parkinson's disease patients treated with mandibular implant overdentures

Parkinson's disease (PD) often affects the oro-pharyngeal musculature, leading to problems with speaking, chewing and swallowing. The inevitable reduction in food and fluid intake contributes to the further deterioration of neurological symptoms. Parkinson's disease patients have great difficulties in adjusting to the use of complete dentures. It is the purpose of this report to evaluate the benefit of using dental implants combined with overdentures to improve chewing and predigestion capacity in severely handicapped PD patients. Three edentulous PD patients (2 male, 1 female; mean age 75.7 years; mean PD duration 4.3 years; PD severity grade III according to Hoehn and Yahr; mean edentulousness 19.3 years) complaining of poor chewing ability were included in this evaluation. One-stage dental implants were placed in the interforaminal region of the mandible. After completion of healing, new overdentures were fabricated. Custom-made non-rigid (resilient) telescopic attachments were used for retention of the overdentures on the implants. Follow-up examinations of the 3 patients were made between 28 and 42 months after the completion of treatment, and peri-implant tissue conditions as well as the patients' self-assessed satisfaction level were recorded. A modified gastrointestinal symptoms questionnaire, Hoehn and Yahr Scale and body weight measurements were used to monitor gastrointestinal impairment and PD severity. The peri-implant parameters indicated healthy soft tissue conditions and all Periotest values were in the negative range. The patients judged their chewing abilities to be greatly improved. Since placing the implants, PD severity had deteriorated to grade IV (Hoehn and Yahr scale) in 2 patients and was stable in 1 patient. The body weight had improved slightly in all patients (mean 2.2 kg). On the gastrointestinal scale, all patients had improved from a mean score of 8.7 to 5.7. Non-rigid telescopic attachments for overdenture stabilization are particularly suitable for PD patients as they are easy to handle and to clean. The patients reported remarkable improvement in their chewing ability, an assessment which would seem to be supported by the improved gastro-intestinal index. The regimen described appears to be a useful adjunctive treatment in edentulous Parkinson's disease patients and may be considered for patients with diseases similarly affecting motor skills.     

重症急性胰腺炎早期空肠内营养支持的疗效观察

目的：探讨早期空肠内置管行肠内营养（EN）在重症急性胰腺炎（SAP）治疗中的作用。方法：38例非手术治疗的SAP患者，分为全肠外营养（TPN）组26例，EN组12例。TPN组常规予全胃肠外营养，直至完全经口进食；EN组在胃肠功能恢复后即开始实施EN治疗。结果：EN组感染率、并发症发生率、平均腹胀缓解时间、平均住院时间和平均住院费用均显著低于TPN组（P〈0．05），2组死亡率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：EN支持是SPA的重要治疗手段，胃肠道功能恢复后及早行EN是安全有效的。     

23例2型糖尿病患者食管癌根治术后肠内营养的护理

目的总结2型糖尿病患者食管癌根治术后肠内营养（EN）的护理管理。方法回顾23例通过术中安置空肠营养管，术后进行肠内营养治疗，对肠内营养液输注过程中血糖监测、血糖的控制方法、EN治疗管理和心理护理等方法进行分析，并对术后营养、伤口愈合、感染、并发症、病死率等指标进行观察。结果23例均按计划完成EN，平均输注营养液时间（7．3±3．4）d。接受胰岛素皮下注射者9例，有5例出现过高血糖症和1例出现低血糖症；给予微量泵静脉注射胰岛素者14例，有2例出现高血糖症和5例出现低血糖症。术后感染2例，伤口裂开1例，非感染并发症2例，食管吻合口瘘1例，病死率为0，平均术后住院日为（19．1±8．7）d。结论对于2型糖尿病患者食管癌手术后接受EN，要密切监测血糖变化，应用微量泵注射胰岛素等方法控制血糖，并加强心理护理。     

肠内免疫营养的研究进展

营养支持在疾病治疗中日趋重要,随着人们对肠功能的再认识,尤其是肠道黏膜屏障、细菌易位及肠道是应激反应的一个中心器官等概念的确立,肠内营养越来越受到重视,无论是理论研究、应用技术还是制剂研制等都取得了很大的发展,而肠内免疫营养更是近年来现代外科研究的方向之一。     

沈阳医学院学生营养知识、态度和行为的调查

目的：了解沈阳医学院学生的营养知识、态度和饮食行为现状，为此后的营养宣教提供依据。方法：以《中国居民膳食指南》和《中国居民平衡膳食宝塔》为依据，采用K—A—P问卷形式对一年级全体学生进行营养知识、态度和饮食行为的调查。结果：大学生营养知识及格率为71．1％。奶类及海产品含钙高知晓率最高，为93．9％。90．8％的学生愿意接受营养知识，41．6％的学生愿意通过报刊、杂志、宣传画途径获得营养知识，获得营养知识后能改变行为的仅占30．2％。结论：学生对营养知识缺乏全面深入的了解，饮食行为不合理，应加强对医学生营养知识方面的宣传教育。