Protein-Energy Wasting and Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease

Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with an increased death risk from cardiovascular diseases. However, while even minor renal dysfunction is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular prognosis, PEW becomes clinically manifest at an advanced stage, early before or during the dialytic stage. Mechanisms causing loss of muscle protein and fat are complex and not always associated with anorexia, but are linked to several abnormalities that stimulate protein degradation and/or decrease protein synthesis. In addition, data from experimental CKD indicate that uremia specifically blunts the regenerative potential in skeletal muscle, by acting on muscle stem cells. In this discussion recent findings regarding the mechanisms responsible for malnutrition and the increase in cardiovascular risk in CKD patients are discussed. During the course of CKD, the loss of kidney excretory and metabolic functions proceed together with the activation of pathways of endothelial damage, inflammation, acidosis, alterations in insulin signaling and anorexia which are likely to orchestrate net protein catabolism and the PEW syndrome

Novel genetic loci underlying human intracranial volume identified through genome-wide association

Intracranial volume reflects the maximally attained brain size during development, and remains stable with loss of tissue in late life. It is highly heritable, but the underlying genes remain largely undetermined. In a genome-wide association study of 32,438 adults, we discovered five novel loci for intracranial volume and confirmed two known signals. Four of the loci are also associated with adult human stature, but these remained associated with intracranial volume after adjusting for height. We found a high genetic correlation with child head circumference (ρgenetic=0.748), which indicated a similar genetic background and allowed for the identification of four additional loci through meta-analysis (Ncombined = 37,345). Variants for intracranial volume were also related to childhood and adult cognitive function, Parkinson’s disease, and enriched near genes involved in growth pathways including PI3K–AKT signaling. These findings identify biological underpinnings of intracranial volume and provide genetic support for theories on brain reserve and brain overgrowth

Prevalence of chronic HCV infection in EU/EEA countries in 2019 using multiparameter evidence synthesis

Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)Background: Epidemiological data are crucial to monitoring progress towards the 2030 Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination targets. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of chronic HCV infection (cHCV) in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries in 2019. Methods: Multi-parameter evidence synthesis (MPES) was used to produce national estimates of cHCV defined as: π = πrecρrec + πexρex + πnonρnon; πrec, πex, and πnon represent cHCV prevalence among recent people who inject drugs (PWID), ex-PWID, and non-PWID, respectively, while ρrec, ρex, and ρnon represent the proportions of these groups in the population. Information sources included the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) national operational contact points (NCPs) and prevalence database, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction databases, and the published literature. Findings: The cHCV prevalence in 29 of 30 EU/EEA countries in 2019 was 0.50% [95% Credible Interval (CrI): 0.46%, 0.55%]. The highest cHCV prevalence was observed in the eastern EU/EEA (0.88%; 95% CrI: 0.81%, 0.94%). At least 35.76% (95% CrI: 33.07%, 38.60%) of the overall cHCV prevalence in EU/EEA countries was associated with injecting drugs. Interpretation: Using MPES and collaborating with ECDC NCPs, we estimated the prevalence of cHCV in the EU/EEA to be low. Some areas experience higher cHCV prevalence while a third of prevalent cHCV infections was attributed to PWID. Further efforts are needed to scale up prevention measures and the diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals, especially in the east of the EU/EEA and among PWID. Funding: ECDC.Peer reviewe

Effects of high protein intakes

Among other nutrients of breast milk, the amino acid pattern is considered normative throughout infancy. Exclusive breastfeeding by a healthy mother should be the standard from birth to 6 months. During the breastfeeding period the protein intake is low in the human being compared too many other animals. The protein content in breast milk is about 1 g/1 00 ml and the daily protein intake approximately 1 g/kg/day. When other foods are introduced during the weaning period the protein intake increases remarkably to 3-4 g/kg/day in spite of the fact that the protein requirement is decreasing. The long-term consequences of this phenomenon are obscure. A high protein intake has endocrine effects, such as the high levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1. Furthermore, the metabolic effects With high levels of urea in serum and urine, and the high levels of many amino acids may exceed the capacity of the hepatic and renal systems to metabolize and excrete the excess of nitrogen. This may lead to acidosis and hypernatremic dehydration during periods of fever and diarrhea. Whether the risk of obesity later in life is decreased because of a low intake of protein during the breastfeeding period is still obscure. Copyright (c) 2006 Nestee Ltd., Vevey/S. Karger AG, Basel

Mothers' experiences of feeding situations - an interview study.

SYFTE: Syftet med studien var att beskriva föräldrars upplevelser av matsituationerna och kontakten med sjuksköterskan inom barnhälsovården (BHV). BAKGRUNDEN: Några av de viktigaste uppgifterna för sjuksköterskan inom BHV är att följa tillväxten, identifiera uppfödningsproblem och att ge råd om kost och uppfödningsrutiner. METOD: Arton mödrar med varierande ålder, utbildning etnicitet och antal barn och rekryterades från olika barnavårdscentraler blev intervjuade. Berättelserna skrevs ut ordagrant och analyserades med innehållsanalys på manifest och latent nivå. RESULTAT: Alla mödrar beskrev att kost och uppfödning var väsentliga delar i deras liv vilka krävde en hel del tid och engagemang. Två huvudkategorier avseende mödrars förhållningssätt kunde identifieras - ett flexibel förhållningssätt ett kontrollerande förhållningssätt. Mödrar som uttryckte ett flexibelt förhållningssätt var mer öppna för sina barns signaler och svarade på dem för att skapa en god kommunikation. Mödrar som uttryckte ett behov av kontroll skapade regler och rutiner kring matsituationerna. Mödrar med ett kontrollerande förhållningssätt uttryckte att de fick otillräckligt stöd från sjuksköterskan inom BHV. KONKLUSION AND KLINISKA IMPLIKATION: Denna studie visade att några mödrar beskrev otillräckligt stöd från sjuksköterskan inom BHV. Kunskap kring mödrars upplevelser av matsituationerna och deras olika förhållningssätt gentemot sitt barn i samband med måltider kan öka kunskapen hos sjuksköterskorna inom BHV och bidra till ökad förståelse och adekvat stöd till mödrar som upplever uppfödningsproblematik.AIM: The aim of the study was to describe parents' experiences concerning feeding situations and their contact with the nurse at the Child Health Service (CHS). BACKGROUND: Some of the most important tasks for the nurse at the CHS are to monitor growth, detect feeding difficulties and give advice concerning food intake and feeding practices. METHOD: Eighteen mothers differing in age, education, ethnicity and number of children and recruited from different CHS were interviewed. The narratives were transcribed verbatim and analysed by content analysis at manifest and latent levels. RESULT: All mothers' described that food and feeding were essential parts of their lives requiring a great deal of time and involvement. Two major categories of mothers' attitudes in feeding situations were identified - a flexible attitude and a controlling attitude. Mothers with a flexible attitude were sensitive to the child's signals and responded to them in order to obtain good communication. Mothers who expressed a need for control established rules and routines regarding the feeding situations. Mothers with a controlling attitude expressed receiving inadequate support from the nurse at the CHS. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPLICATION: This study shows that some mothers experience inadequate support from the nurse at the CHS. Knowledge about mothers' experiences of feeding situations and their different attitudes towards the child during feeding might improve the CHS nurses' knowledge and help them understand and more adequately support mothers who experience feeding difficulties

Protein and amino acid metabolism in three- to twelve-month-old infants fed human milk or formulas with varying protein concentrations

PermissionsORIGINAL ARTICLESProtein and Amino Acid Metabolism in Three- to Twelve-Month-Old Infants Fed Human Milk or Formulas with Varying Protein ConcentrationsÅkeson, Pia M. Karlsland; Axelsson, Irene E. M.; Räihä, Niels C. R.Author InformationJournal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition 26(3):p 297-304, March 1998.FREEAbstractBackground: The metabolic response to different protein intakes from breast milk and/or formulas varying in protein concentrations, in combination with supplementary foods, has not been studied in infants who are in the second half of infancy.Methods: Healthy infants, exclusively breast-fed until 3 months old, were randomly assigned to one of three groups, F13, F15, or F18, and were given formulas with 13, 15, or 18 g/l of protein, respectively. Infants breast-fed (B) and mixedfed (M) (breast milk and formula) at months formed the fourth and fifth groups. All infants received the same supplementary foods and were studied from ages 3 to 12 months.Results: The concentrations of albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin were similar in all groups. At 6 months, serum and urine urea concentrations were lower in B and M, compared with urea levels in the formula-fed groups of infants. At 12 months, urine urea was lower in B + M than it was in F18. At 6 months, plasma concentrations of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and methionine were higher in all formula-fed groups; and those of valine, isoleucine, and threonine were higher in F18 and F15 than they were in B and M. Plasma concentrations of methionine, valine, and threonine were higher in F18 than in F13. At 12 months, plasma levels of tyrosine, methionine, valine, isoleucine, and leucine were higher in F18 than they were in B + M.Conclusion: Many indexes of protein metabolism were similar in groups F13, B, and M, particularly at 6 months. In contrast, the provision of a formula with 18 g/l of protein resulted in a different metabolic pattern, which could indicate unnecessarily high protein intakes

Growth and nutrient intake in three- to twelve-month-old infants fed human milk or formulas with varying protein concentrations

Background: Results on growth and nutrient intake in infants in the second half of infancy fed human milk or formulas with varying protein concentrations in combination with supplementary foods have not previously been reported. Methods: Seventy-one healthy infants were studied from 3 to 12 months of age. They were exclusively breast-fed until 3 months and were then randomly assigned to one of three feeding groups, F13, F15, or F18, indicating formulas with 13, 15 or 18 g/l of protein, respectively. Formula was gradually introduced when breast-feeding was terminated. Infants fed breast milk only were included in the breast-fed group, and those with breast milk and formula were included in the mixed-fed group. The same supplementary foods were provided to all infants. Results: There were no differences in growth between the feeding groups. Total protein intake exceeded minimum recommendations in all groups at all ages and was higher at 6 months in F18 than in F13 (2.3 vs. 1.9 g/kg per day; p < 0.01), whereas formula protein intake was higher at all ages in F18 compared with F13. Intake of protein from supplementary foods increased, but that from formula decreased between 6 and 12 months in all groups. Conclusions: Intake of breast milk or infant formula with 13 g/l of protein along with high-protein supplementary foods provided enough protein with no adverse effect on growth. Infants fed formulas with higher protein concentrations had similar growth, despite higher intakes of formula protein

Response

Response to Sheila Twinn commentary on Bramhagen AC. Axelsson I. and Hallström I. Mother’s experiences of feeding situations. An interview study

Self-Reported Effects of Diet on Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Healthy Children

OBJECTIVES: Evidence on dietary effects on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in healthy children is lacking. Despite this, dietary advice is still common practice in the treatment of children's GI symptoms. The aim was to investigate self-reported dietary effects on GI symptoms in healthy children. METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study on children, a validated self-reporting questionnaire including 90 specified food items was used. Healthy children aged 1-18 years old and their parents were invited to participate. Descriptive data were presented as median (range) and n (%). RESULTS: In total, 265 of 300 children (9 years [1-18]; 52% boys) answered the questionnaire. Overall, 21 of 265 (8%) reported that diet induced GI symptoms regularly. In total, 2 (0-34) food items were reported per child as inducing GI symptoms. The most frequently reported items were beans (24%), plums (21%), and cream (14%). More children with GI symptoms (constipation, abdominal pain, troublesome gases) than with No/Seldom GI symptoms reported that diet could potentially induce GI symptoms (17/77 [22%] vs 4/188 [2%], P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, they adjusted their diet to regulate GI symptoms (16/77 [21%] vs 8/188 [4%], P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Few healthy children reported that diet induced GI symptoms, and only a minority of food items were reported to induce GI symptoms. Children who had already experienced GI symptoms reported that diet impacted on GI symptoms to a greater, but still very limited, extent. Results can be used to determine accurate expectations and goals of dietary treatment of GI symptoms in children