Volume 26 Issue 1

▪ Keyword : PICC complications, infectious complications, non-infectious complications, body weight, birth weight

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The placement of a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) is an essential procedure in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). The aim of this study was to determine the risk of PICC complications in NICU, and further identify the effects of PICC complications on body weight gain in premature infants. Methods and Study Design: A total of 304 premature infants who had a PICC inserted in NICU were enrolled in this study.

▪ Keyword : GNRI, nutrition, healthcare costs, quality-of-life score, hemodialysis

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the relationship between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) at baseline and healthcare costs of three-month as well as the risk of quality-of-life score at the 6-month follow-up for Chinese hemodialysis patients. Methods and Study Design: One hundred patients who had been on maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled in this study. The general characteristics, laboratory test results and GNRI of the patients at baseline were recorded.

▪ Keyword : critical illness, enteral nutrition, meta-analysis, energy intake, protein intake

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Here we systematically reviewed and quantitatively analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the important initial outcomes of critically ill adults receiving low- and high-energy enteral nutrition. Methods and Study Design: RCTs comparing low- and high-energy supplementation in critically ill adults receiving enteral nutrition admitted to the intensive care unit for an expected stay of >48 h were included. Abstracts submitted to major scientific meetings were included and the primary endpoint was mortality. The risk ratio (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were the effect measures.

▪ Keyword : nasoenteric tube, jejunostomy, enteral nutrition, upper gastrointestinal operations, meta-analysis

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Following major upper gastrointestinal surgical procedures, early enteral nutrition to the jejunum is strongly recommended, either through a nasoenteric tube or a percutaneous transperitoneal jejunal feeding tube (jejunostomy). However, to date there has been no consensus as to the best enteral feeding strategy. Our aim was to determine the safest and most efficacious early enteral nutrition supplement strategy following major upper gastrointestinal operations.

▪ Keyword : intensive care units, critical illness, nutrition therapy, enteral nutrition, clinical protocols

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The optimal delivery of enteral nutrition (EN) may improve clinical outcomes in critically ill patients; thus, optimal EN protocols should be developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of implementing an EN protocol on the improvement of EN practices and on the clinical outcomes of critically ill patients.

▪ Keyword : aging, natural-killer cell activity, neutrophil function, nutritional status, tube feeding

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Aging and malnutrition are known to influence immune functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of aging and malnutrition to innate immune functions in tube-fed bedridden patients.

▪ Keyword : chemotherapy, oral mucositis, diarrhea, elemental diet, sophageal cancer

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Patients undergoing chemotherapy often develop distressing adverse effects such as oral mucositis and diarrhea. Nutritional support with elemental diet is effective against various gastrointestinal complications and may exert protective effects against adverse effects induced by chemotherapy. To evaluate the influence of elemental diet on chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis and diarrhea, we conducted a randomized control trial in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

▪ Keyword : esophageal cancer, nutritional status, performance score, prognostic score, weight loss

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: To determine the nutritional status of patients with esophageal cancer, and to investigate its relationship with performance status and prognosis. Methods and Study Design: This clinical, cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2014 to February 2015 at National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. Stage III/IV esophageal cancer patients were assessed for their nutritional status (patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) and SGA scores, BMI, mid-arm circumference (MAC), energy and protein intakes, weight changes, Karnofsky and Eastern cooperative oncology group performance scores (KPS/ECOG), and Glasgow prognostic score (GPS).

▪ Keyword : glycemic control, diabetes, black tea, black tea polymerized polyphenols, catechins

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Postprandial glycemic control is important for prevention of diabetes. Black tea consumption may improve postprandial glycemic control. The major bioactive compounds are polyphenols, black tea polymerized polyphenol (BTPP).This study examined the effect of black tea consumption on postprandial blood glucose and insulin response following sucrose loading in normal and pre-diabetes subjects.

▪ Keyword : tomato, lycopene, male infertility, oxidative stress, sperm parameters

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of tomato juice consumption on seminal plasma lycopene levels and sperm parameters in infertile men. Methods and Study Design: Subjects were male infertility patients with poor sperm concentration (<20×106/mL) and/or motility (<50%).

▪ Keyword : Lactobacillus casei Shirota, fermented milk drink, Vietnamese adults, probiotic, survival

▪ Content : To demonstrate the gastrointestinal survival of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) in healthy Vietnamese adults, a fermented milk drink containing LcS was administered daily for 14 days. Twenty-six healthy Vietnamese adults took part in the study. Each participant consumed 65 mL of a fermented milk drink containing LcS daily for 14 days.

▪ Keyword : dietary zinc, dietary vitamin B-2, serum alanine aminotransferase, hepatic injury, adolescents

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is generally used for evaluating liver function, and its concentrations are closely associated with sex and nutritional status. This study investigates the relationships between dietary components and serum ALT activity in Taiwanese adolescents. Methods and Study Design: Data were collected from 1,941 adolescents aged 13-18 years who participated in the fourth National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (2010-2011, adolescents).

▪ Keyword : muscle strength, isokinetic, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, muscle architecture, ultrasound

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the association between 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and muscle strength/architecture. Methods and study Design: Thirty patients (27 women, 3 men) were allocated into Group I (n=15, mean age; 44.4±9.4 years) and Group II (n=15, mean age; 39.0±9.9 years) according to the median of 25(OH)D (<13.7 ng/mL vs >13.7 ng/mL, respectively).

▪ Keyword : dietary fiber, epidemiology, meta-analysis, nutrition, pancreatic cancer

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The association between fiber intake and pancreatic cancer risk is conflicting and poorly explored. The aim of study was to investigate the association between dietary fiber intake and the risk of pancreatic cancer by conducting a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Methods and Study Design: Systematic search of PubMed and Embase databases up to April 2015 were conducted to identify relevant studies.

▪ Keyword : food supplementation, psychosocial stimulation, growth and development, infants, Indonesia

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: To evaluate the effect of culturally-relevant food supplementation and psychosocial stimulation on infant growth and development. Methods and Study Design: A community-based randomized controlled trial was conducted in 40 clusters from 5 selected villages in Tanah Datar District of West Sumatera, Indonesia. We assessed 355 infants aged 6 to 9 months at the beginning of the study.

▪ Keyword : picky eating, fussy eating, poor eating, preschooler, dietary intake

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Picky eating behaviours are common in young children and may adversely affect dietary intake. This study examined the adequacy of dietary patterns and nutrient intake in preschool-aged children in China and Hong Kong with picky eating behaviours and weight-for-height in the lowest quartile of the WHO Growth Standards.

▪ Keyword : acceptability to purchase, micronutrient powders, Nepal, price points, iron

▪ Content : Background and Objective: Little is known about purchasing micronutrient powders (MNP) for children 2-5 years. We describe acceptability for purchasing and price points for MNP for children 2-5 years among caregivers living in districts where free MNP are distributed for children 6-23 months. Methods and Study Design: Crosssectional surveys conducted 3 months after MNP program implementation in 2 districts; 15 months after implementation in 2 different districts. Chi square tests and logistic regression describe associations among socio-demographics and program exposure factors and acceptability of purchasing MNP among 1,261 mothers of children 6-23 months who had heard of MNP.

▪ Keyword : constipation, diet, physical activity, time management, Japanese preschool children

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Constipation is a common complaint in children, which is not fatal but can affect quality of life. Several lifestyle-related risk factors for constipation have been reported, particularly dietary factors, but results have been inconsistent. Here, we examined the relationship of dietary and lifestyle factors with constipation in Japanese preschool children using data of a nationwide study.

▪ Keyword : depression, metabolic syndrome, unhealthy behaviours, physical activity, dietary intake and habits

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether depression was associated with metabolic syndrome and unhealthy behaviours in community residents. Methods and Study Design: Using the 2009-2010 baseline data of the Saku Cohort Study, 1,225 men and women who participated in a community health screening were included in the cross-sectional analyses.

▪ Keyword : metabolic syndrome, white blood cell count, cardiovascular risk, gender differences, Wuhan

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The aim was to investigate the association between peripheral circulating white blood cell count (WBC) and the metabolic syndrome among populations in central China. Methods and Study Design: In the present study, 5,278 subjects (2,412 women, 2,866 men) aged 18-75 years were recruited through a health check program in Wuhan, China. Biochemical and haematological parameters were measured by standard methods and the metabolic syndrome diagnosed as defined by the Chinese Diabetes Society criteria for Chinese.

▪ Keyword : Lucky Iron Fish® , anaemia, iron deficiency, food safety, iron release

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The principal objective was to explore in greater detail safety issues with regard to the use of the Lucky Iron Fish® (fish) as a treatment for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in women in rural Cambodia.

▪ Keyword : household income, food group intake, multilevel modelling, National Health and Nutrition Survey, health inequality

▪ Content : This study examines the relationship between of food group intake and household income in a representative Japanese population. A total of 11,015 subjects (5,127 men and 5,888 women) aged 20 to 79 years, in 5,475 households who were part of the National Health and Nutrition Survey, Japan, in 2010 and 2011 were analyzed.

▪ Keyword : school lunch program, nutrient-based standards, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan

▪ Content : Nutritional standards are important guidelines for providing students with nutritionally-balanced school meals. This study compared nutrient-based school lunch standards regulated by South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. The data were collected from relevant literature and websites of each country during September 2014. The number of classification groups of target students was 8, 5, and 5 for South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, respectively.

▪ Keyword : food guide, nutrition education, children, healthy eating pyramid, healthy eating plate

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: This study explored attitudes toward two food guides currently being widely used in Australia: the Healthy Eating Pyramid and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating Plate. Methods and Study Design: Ten focus groups were conducted with adults (aged 18+ years) and children (aged 10-17 years) across various locations in Perth, Western Australia. The discussions focused on liked and disliked aspects of each food guide and the implications for participants’ perceptions of their relative usefulness.

▪ Keyword : eating competence, demographic characteristics, elderly, Taiwan

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: To investigate the association between demographic characteristics and eating competence (EC), “the behaviour and attitudinal conceptualization of eating”, among elderly Taiwanese. Methods and Study Design: Random questionnaire survey. Overall, 564 questionnaires were analyzed, and independent t-tests, analysis of variance, chi-square tests, were used to compare the differences in the EC scores when stratified by various demographic variables.

▪ Keyword : nutrition, malnutrition, needs assessment, rapid assessment and response, social marketing

▪ Content : Background: The leading cause of death in children in developing countries is protein-energy malnutrition. In Viet Nam, 25.9% of children under 5 experience stunted growth and 6.6% are moderately wasted. Iron deficiency anaemia and vitamin A deficiency contribute to these and other malnutrition conditions. Objectives: Given these factors, more evidence based approaches are required to improve understanding of current attitudes, opinions and behaviours of mothers with young children, in order to operationalise social marketing of nutrition commodities in Viet Nam.