Mini Nutritional Assessment is a good predictor of functional status in institutionalised elderly at risk of malnutrition

Background & aims: To possibly validate the use of Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) with respect to functional status in institutionalised elderly. Methods: One hundred twenty-three long-term care resident elderly (85.3 \ub1 8.4 years) were recruited. Nutritional and functional states were assessed by MNA and Barthel Index (BI), respectively. Main inclusion criterion was a MNA < 23.5. Anthropometric, biochemical data and oral intake (percentage of food consumed to that delivered) were evaluated. Results: MNA significantly correlated with BI (r = 0.55; p < 0.0001). Malnutrition (MNA < 17) was characterized by lower BMI, muscle mass, poor nutritional habits and higher weight loss and disability. Similarly, poorer functional status was associated with low BMI, sarcopenia and reduced oral intake. The interrelationship between MNA and BI were investigated by multiple regression models with progressive inclusion of variables (one/analysis). The initial association between MNA and BI (p < 0.0001) was masked by weight loss (p < 0.02), muscle mass (p < 0.03) and oral intake (p < 0.05). However, when BI was included as dependent variable the association with MNA depended on sarcopenia (p < 0.05) and reduced food consumption (p < 0.001). Conclusions: MNA reliably identifies at-risk institutionalised elderly needing higher standards of care, particularly related to eating. Routine documentation of oral intakes and feeding assistance might be useful to prevent weight loss, sarcopenia and functional status deterioration

Una grande struttura “Fiorano” esplorata a Bazzarola (Reggio Emilia)

Lo scavo archeologico di Bazzarola (RE), il suo studio multidisciplinar

A new time: Bayesian models of an Early Neolithic enclosure in North-Western Denmark

The article presents the results of the first Bayesian model of a causewayed enclosure from Denmark. 21 samples were dated, some with multiple dates, giving a total of 41 dates. These dates are built into a model which includes archaeological priors in the form of stratigraphy. It is demonstrated that this enclosure can be dated to the same time as the majority of enclosures on the British Isles: the 37th century BC. Together with other early dates for enclosures, it illustrates that enclosure construction was introduced in South Scandinavia as part of a large European expansion of enclosures. With Bayesian modelling, we can provide better answers to more questions, both regarding intrasite chronologies and a wide range of chronological issues