Metabolic and nutritional triggers associated with increased risk of liver complications in SARS-CoV-2

Obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer and smoking are risk factors for negative outcomes in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which can quickly induce severe respiratory failure in 5% of cases. Coronavirus disease-associated liver injury may occur during progression of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with or without pre-existing liver disease, and damage to the liver parenchyma can be caused by infection of hepatocytes. Cirrhosis patients may be particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 if suffering with cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction. Furthermore, pharmacotherapies including macrolide or quinolone antibiotics and steroids can also induce liver damage. In this review we addressed nutritional status and nutritional interventions in severe SARS-CoV-2 liver patients. As guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 in intensive care (IC) specifically are not yet available, strategies for management of sepsis and SARS are suggested in SARS-CoV-2. Early enteral nutrition (EN) should be started soon after IC admission, preferably employing iso-osmolar polymeric formula with initial protein content at 0.8 g/kg per day progressively increasing up to 1.3 g/kg per day and enriched with fish oil at 0.1 g/kg per day to 0.2 g/kg per day. Monitoring is necessary to identify signs of intolerance, hemodynamic instability and metabolic disorders, and transition to parenteral nutrition should not be delayed when energy and protein targets cannot be met via EN. Nutrients including vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, B12, folic acid, zinc, selenium and ω-3 fatty acids have in isolation or in combination shown beneficial effects upon immune function and inflammation modulation. Cautious and monitored supplementation up to upper limits may be beneficial in management strategies for SARS-CoV-2 liver patients

A poorer nutritional status impacts quality of life in a sample population of elderly cancer patients

Rationale Quality of Life (QoL) is impaired in cancer, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition. A diagnosis of cancer in elderly patients further exacerbates risks of negative health outcomes. Here we investigated associations between QoL and nutritional status in a sample population of mostly socially deprived elderly cancer patients. Method 432 cancer patients were recruited for this cross-sectional study at point of admission to a tertiary referral hospital for cancer treatment. Patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) assessed nutritional status. Functional assessment of cancer therapy- general (FACT-G) quantified QoL. Relationship between PG-SGA and QoL was assessed by Spearman correlation. PG-SGA outcomes were compared against FACT-G scores employing Mann–Whitney test. Bivariate Linear Regression Model was employed to investigate influences of sociodemographic, clinical and nutritional status upon QoL. Results 37.5% of participants were malnourished or at risk. 39% were illiterate and 54.6% had family income lower than minimum wage. Malnourished patients showed lower FACT-G scores (76.8 vs. 84.7; p = 0.000). Poor nutritional diagnosis was inversely correlated with all QoL domains. Bivariate regression analysis showed that lower PG-SGA scores (βo =  − 1.00; p = 0.000) contributed to FACT-G score deterioration, the male gender showed better QoL scores, and other clinical and sociodemographic variables did not show relationship. Conclusion Poorer nutritional status was significantly associated with worsened physical, social, emotional and functional well-being QoL domains in elderly cancer patients. Poorer nutritional status is an independent risk factor for worsened QoL. Future policies aimed at particularly vulnerable populations may improve QoL and health outcomes

Prevalence and risk factors for bovine leptospirosis in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Foi investigada a prevalência de anticorpos antileptospira em fêmeas bovinas com idade igual ou superior a 24 meses, provenientes de 178 rebanhos de 22 municípios do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, bem como identificados fatores de risco associados à infecção. Foram analisadas 2.573 amostras de soro sangüíneo por meio do teste de soroaglutinação microscópica perante 10 sorovares de leptospira. Títulos iguais ou superiores a 100 para um ou mais sorovares foram detectados em 1.801 fêmeas (98,8%) de 161 (96,5%) rebanhos. O sorovar Hardjo (65,6%) foi apontado como o mais provável, seguido do sorovar Wolffi (12,3%). Os resultados demonstram que a leptospirose bovina se encontra presente em todos os municípios estudados, com alta prevalência, tanto em animais como em rebanhos. Os fatores de risco identificados neste estudo e associados à infecção por bactérias do gênero lepstopira foram o tipo de exploração pecuária de corte e a raça Zebu. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe prevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies was estimated for female cattle aged 24 months or older. The sample comprised 178 herds from 22 counties in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The risk factors associated with the presence of infeccion were investigated. A total of 2,573 blood serum samples were tested against 10 leptospira serovars using the microagglutination test (MAT). Titers of 100 or higher for one or more serovars were detected in 1,801 females (98.8%) from 161 herds (96.5%). Serovar Hardjo (65.6%) was the most frequent, followed by serovar Wolffi (12.3%). These results suggest that bovine leptospirosis is widespread in all the counties under study, with a high prevalence both at the animal and the herd level. Beef farms and the Zebu breed were associated to the higher risk of herd infection by leptospiras

Thermochemical Parameters Of Complexes Of Di-n-propyldithiocarbamate Of Phosphorus-group Elements

The standard molar enthalpy of formation of crystalline di-n-propyldithiocarbamate complexes of P, As, Sb and Bi(III) was determined through reaction-solution calorimetry in acetone, at 298.15 K, giving -661.10±5.04, -305.07±5.50, -366.62±1.70 and -358.98±1.70 kJ mol-1, respectively. The corresponding standard molar enthalpies of sublimation were 127.36±4.24, 145.07±5.30, 169.45±6.08 and 185.24±5.03 kJ mol-1, respectively, estimated by means of differential scanning calorimetry. By combining the preceding values with the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the chelates in the solid phase, the standard molar enthalpies of formation in the gas phase was obtained as -533.74±7.28, -160.00±6.10, 197.17±6.31 and 173.74±5.31 kJ mol-1, respectively. From the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the gaseous chelates, the homolytic values were 217.3±3.1, 153.0±3.0, 152.5±3.0 and 139.5±2.9, and the heterolytic values were 1091.3±3.1, 969.2±3.0, 867.1±3.0 and 838.5±2.9 kJ mol-1, and the mean metal-sulphur bond-dissociation enthalpies were calculated.3281-2217222Bernard, M.A., Borel, M., (1969) Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr., 9, p. 3064Hill, J.O., Magee, R.J., (1981) Rev. Inorg. Chem., 3, p. 141Burkinshaw, P.M., Mortimer, C.T., (1983) Coord. Chem. Rev., 48, p. 101Airoldi, C., Chagas, A.P., (1992) Coord. Chem. Rev., 119, p. 29Airoldi, C., Souza, A.G., (1987) J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., p. 2955Souza, A.G., Airoldi, C., (1988) Thermochim. Acta, 130, p. 95Airoldi, C., Souza, A.G., (1989) J. Chem. Thermodyn., 21, p. 283Souza, A.G., Souza Neto, F., Souza, J.H., Macêdo, R.O., Oliveira, J.B.L., Pinheiro, C.D., (1997) J. Therm. Anal., 49, p. 679Carvalho, M.A.R.P., Souza, A.G., Airoldi, C., (1992) J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., p. 235Souza, A.G., Pinheiro, C.D., Airoldi, C., (1990) J. Chem. Thermodyn., 22, p. 1213Souza, A.G., Souza, J.H., Airoldi, C., (1991) J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., p. 1751Souza, A.G., Pinheiro, C.D., Santos, L.C.R., Melo, M.L.M., (1994) Thermochim. Acta, 231, p. 31Bonati, F., Ugo, R., (1967) J. Organomet. Chem., 10, p. 257Sharma, C.P., Kumar, N., Khandpal, M.C., Chandra, S., Bhide, V.G., (1981) J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem., 41, p. 923Kellner, R., Nikolov, G.S., Trendafilova, N., (1984) Inorg. Chim. Acta, 84, p. 233Airoldi, C., (1985) J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., p. 369Wagman, D.D., Evans, W.H., Parker, V.B., Schumm, R.H., Halow, I., Bailey, S.W., Churney, K.L., Nuttall, R.L., (1982) J. Phys. Chem., Ref. Data, 11 (SUPPL. 2)Ribeiro Da Silva, M.A.V., Reis, A.M.V., Pilcher, G., (1987) J. Chem. Thermodyn., 19, p. 837Souza, A.G., Pinheiro, C.D., Airoldi, C., (1992) Polyhedron, 11, p. 371Janz, G.J., (1968) Thermodynamic Properties of Organic Compounds, Revised Ed., , Academic Press, New YorkReid, R.C., Sherwood, T.K., (1968) The Properties of Gases and Liquids, 2nd Ed., , McGraw-Hill, New YorkDias, S.C., Brasilino, M.G.A., Pinheiro, C.D., Souza, A.G., (1994) Thermochim. Acta, 241, p. 2