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1.
Is immunonutrition superior to standard enteral nutrition in reducing postoperative complications in patients undergoing esophagectomy? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Zhuo, ZG, Luo, J, Song, HYDTN, Alai, GH, Shen, X, Lin, YD
Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology. 2021;(1):204-210
Abstract
PURPOSE Perioperative enteral nutrition supports are recommended in esophagus cancer patients. Immunonutrition contains immuno-enhancing nutrients in addition to standard formula. These new nutrients are thought to be efficacious in reducing inflammatory response and improving postoperative immune response and they have been proved to be better than standard enteral nutrition in reducing postoperative complications in gastric cancer. However, if it would lead to a better clinical outcome in patients undergoing esophagectomy remains controversial. METHODS A systematic literature search was performed in the online database of PubMed, Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. The relevant studies were screened out of the results by reading titles and abstracts. Then, we read the full-texts to finally confirm the studies included in this meta-analysis. RESULTS Six randomized controlled trials having enrolled 638 patients were included in the final analysis. The pooled analysis didn't show statistically significant difference between immunonutrition group and standard nutrition group in reducing postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS The postoperative complications are comparable between immunonutrition and the standard enteral nutrition in patients undergoing esophagectomy, but its value in severe malnutrition patients is undetermined, whereas the high tolerance and other advantages brought by the immunonutrition should not be overlooked and need to be further proved.
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2.
Nutritional and immune impairments and their effects on outcomes in early pancreatic cancer patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy.
Tumas, J, Tumiene, B, Jurkeviciene, J, Jasiunas, E, Sileikis, A
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2020;(11):3385-3394
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Nutritional impairments are highly frequent in pancreatic cancer even in the early stages and have a significant impact on outcomes. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate immune and nutritional impairments, their interrelations and impacts on outcomes in an unselected cohort of patients scheduled for pancreatoduodenectomy due to suspicion of pancreatic cancer. METHODS All consecutive patients scheduled for pancreatoduodenectomy at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos between January 2016 and November 2018 were recruited into the study according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients were randomly allocated into the groups of nutritional intervention with immunonutrition vs. control and stratified into the groups of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) vs. other pancreatic tumors. Nutritional evaluation included screening (NRS 2002), anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis and lumbar skeletal muscle index (LSMI). Inflammatory indicators were measured before and after surgery. Surgical outcomes were assessed 30 days postoperatively using Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). RESULTS Although increased nutritional risk was identified in 22.4% of patients, 41.4% were finally diagnosed with cachexia. While cachexia was predominantly diagnosed in underweight patients, sarcopenia was detected across all BMI categories and 11.7% of obese patients had sarcopenia. Decreased LSMI was identified in 52.5% of patients as compared to decreased phase angle in 39% of patients and decreased fat free mass index in only 3.4% of patients. Regression model indicate a large effect of nutritional indicators on CCI (R2 coefficient 71.1%). In comparison to patients with other pancreatic tumors, patients with PDAC had a characteristic pattern of increased systemic inflammation prior to surgery and decreased inflammation postoperatively (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS A high rate of nutritional impairments was identified in our cohort of patients with early pancreatic cancer, including abnormal body composition phenotypes. They produced negative effects on postoperative outcomes. The highest diagnostic rates were obtained with LSMI measurement, while the highest value for prognostication was attained with the inclusion of multiple objective nutritional state indicators.
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3.
Impact of oral preoperative and perioperative immunonutrition on postoperative infection and mortality in patients undergoing cancer surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.
Buzquurz, F, Bojesen, RD, Grube, C, Madsen, MT, Gögenur, I
BJS open. 2020;(5):764-775
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious complications occur in 4-22 per cent of patients undergoing surgical resection of malignant solid tumours. Improving the patient's immune system in relation to oncological surgery with immunonutrition may play an important role in reducing postoperative infections. A meta-analysis was undertaken to evaluate the potential clinical benefits of immunonutrition on postoperative infections and 30-day mortality in patients undergoing oncological surgery. METHODS PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify eligible studies. Eligible studies had to include patients undergoing elective curative surgery for a solid malignant tumour and receiving immunonutrition orally before surgery, including patients who continued immunonutrition into the postoperative period. The main outcome was overall infectious complications; secondary outcomes were surgical-site infection (SSI) and 30-day mortality, described by relative risk (RR) with trial sequential analysis (TSA). Risk of bias was assessed according to Cochrane methodology. RESULTS Some 22 RCTs with 2159 participants were eligible for meta-analysis. Compared with the control group, immunonutrition reduced overall infectious complications (RR 0·58, 95 per cent c.i. 0·48 to 0·70; I2 = 7 per cent; TSA-adjusted 95 per cent c.i. 0·28 to 1·21) and SSI (RR 0·65, 95 per cent c.i. 0·50 to 0·85; I2 = 0 per cent; TSA-adjusted 95 per cent c.i. 0·21 to 2·04). Thirty-day mortality was not altered by immunonutrition (RR 0·69, 0·33 to 1·40; I2 = 0 per cent). CONCLUSION Immunonutrition reduced overall infectious complications, even after controlling for random error, and also reduced SSI. The quality of evidence was moderate, and mortality was not affected by immunonutrition (low quality). Oral immunonutrition merits consideration as a means of reducing overall infectious complications after cancer surgery.
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4.
Effect of preoperative immunonutrition on outcomes of colon cancer surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Lee, SY, Yeom, SS, Kim, CH, Kim, HR
Trials. 2020;(1):628
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current guidelines recommend the prescription of immune-enriched oral nutritional supplements for malnourished patients before major gastrointestinal surgery. However, the benefit of preoperative immunonutrition is still controversial. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of preoperative immunonutrition on the outcomes of surgery for colon cancer. METHODS/DESIGN Patients with primary colon cancer will be included as study participants after screening. They will be randomly assigned (in a ratio of 1:1) to receive preoperative immunonutrition added to the normal diet (experimental arm) or consume normal diet alone (control arm). Patients in the experimental arm will receive oral supplementation (400 mL/day) with arginine and ω-3 fatty acids for 7 days before elective surgery. The primary endpoint is the rate of infectious complications, while the secondary endpoints are postoperative complication rate, change in body weight, length of hospital stay, and nature of fecal microbiome. The authors hypothesize that the rate of infectious complications would be 13% in the experimental arm and 30% in the control arm. With a two-sided alpha of 0.05 and a power of 0.8, the sample size is calculated as 176 patients (88 per arm). DISCUSSION Although there have been many studies demonstrating significant benefits of preoperative immunonutrition, these were limited by a small sample size and potential publication bias. Despite the recommendation of immunonutrition before surgery in nutritional guidelines, its role in reduction of rate of infectious complications is still controversial. This trial is expected to provide evidence for the benefits of administration of preoperative immunonutrition in patients with colon cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Research Information Service KCT0003770 . Registered on 15 April 2019.
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5.
Live vaccines after pediatric solid organ transplant: Proceedings of a consensus meeting, 2018.
Suresh, S, Upton, J, Green, M, Pham-Huy, A, Posfay-Barbe, KM, Michaels, MG, Top, KA, Avitzur, Y, Burton, C, Chong, PP, et al
Pediatric transplantation. 2019;(7):e13571
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests receipt of live-attenuated viral vaccines after solid organ transplant (SOT) has occurred and is safe and needed due to lapses in herd immunity. A 2-day consortium of experts in infectious diseases, transplantation, vaccinology, and immunology was held with the objective to review evidence and create expert recommendations for clinicians when considering live viral vaccines post-SOT. For consideration of VV and MMR post-transplant, evidence exists only for kidney and liver transplant recipients. For MMR vaccine post-SOT, consider vaccination during outbreak or travel to endemic risk areas. Patients who have received antiproliferative agents (eg. mycophenolate mofetil), T cell-depleting agents, or rituximab; or have persistently elevated EBV viral loads, or are in a state of functional tolerance, should be vaccinated with caution and have a more in-depth evaluation to define benefit of vaccination and net state of immune suppression prior to considering vaccination. MMR and/or VV (not combined MMRV) is considered to be safe in patients who are clinically well, are greater than 1 year after liver or kidney transplant and 2 months after acute rejection episode, can be closely monitored, and meet specific criteria of "low-level" immune suppression as defined in the document.
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6.
An observational study of perioperative nutrition and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing laparotomy at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.
Katundu, KG, Mutafya, TW, Lozani, NC, Nyirongo, PM, Uebele, ME
Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi. 2018;(2):79-85
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nutritional status in patients undergoing surgery can influence their immune function, tissue repair and, hence, clinical outcomes. This study aimed to assess the perioperative nutrition and postoperative outcome of patients undergoing laparotomy at a tertiary hospital in Malawi. METHODS A total of 25 patients were included in this prospective, observational study. The Subjective Global Assessment was used to classify each patient according to nutritional status. Handgrip strength was measured for each patient preoperatively and at day 3 postoperatively. Anthropometric measurements were also done. Protein and energy requirements for each participant were estimated and compared to the quantities provided by the hospital diet. Patients were followed up until discharge and outcome variables which included length of hospital stay and wound dehiscence or infectious complications were recorded. RESULTS Of the study participants, 20% were well-nourished, 52% were moderately malnourished and 28% were severely malnourished. The median handgrip strength decreased at day 3 postoperatively from the preoperative handgrip strength. Well-nourished patients had higher handgrip strength than malnourished patients both preoperatively and postoperatively. Total energy and protein provided by the hospital diet were significantly lower than the estimated requirements for the patients. Severely malnourished patients had increased median length of hospital stay and increased rate of postoperative complications. Preoperative and postoperative day 3 handgrip strength correlated negatively with the number of postoperative complications and length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION This study showed high rates of malnutrition and inadequate in-hospital nutritional support which were associated with poor clinical outcomes, especially in severely malnourished patients. Proper nutritional assessment and provision of adequate nutritional support should be reinforced in surgical patients to promote favourable clinical outcomes postoperatively. Further studies with larger sample sizes in other patient populations and hospitals in Malawi are required in this area.
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7.
Oral glutamine reduces myocardial damage after coronary revascularization under cardiopulmonary bypass. A randomized clinical trial.
Chávez-Tostado, M, Carrillo-Llamas, F, Martínez-Gutiérrez, PE, Alvarado-Ramírez, A, López-Taylor, JG, Vásquez-Jiménez, JC, Fuentes-Orozco, C, Rendón-Félix, J, Irusteta-Jiménez, L, Calil-Romero, VC, et al
Nutricion hospitalaria. 2017;(2):277-283
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in the body. It modulates immune cell function and is an important energy substrate for cells in critically ill patients. Reduction of injury cardiac markers had been observed in patients receiving intravenous glutamine and in a pilot study with oral glutamine. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of preoperative oral supplementation of glutamine on postoperative serum levels of cardiac injury markers. METHODS A randomized clinical trial was performed in 28 Mexican patients with ischemic heart disease who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass with extracorporeal circulation. Patients were randomly assigned to receive oral glutamine (0.5 g/kg/day) or maltodextrin 3 days before surgery. Cardiac injury markers as troponin-I, creatine phosphokinase, and creatine phosphokinase-Mb were measured at 1, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS At 12 and 24 hours serum markers levels were significantly lower in the glutamine group compared with controls (p = 0.01 and p = 0.001, respectively) (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). Overall, complications were significantly lower in the glutamine group (p = 0.01, RR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.31-0.93). Mortality was observed with 2 cases of multiple organ failure in control group and 1 case of pulmonary embolism in glutamine group (p = 0.50). CONCLUSION Preoperative oral glutamine standardized at a dose of 0.5 g/kg/day in our study group showed a significant reduction in postoperative myocardial damage. Lower cardiac injury markers levels, morbidity and mortality were observed in patients receiving glutamine.
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8.
Nasal mucosa healing after endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis of elderly patients: role of topic alpha-tocopherol acetate.
Testa, D, Marcuccio, G, Panin, G, Bianco, A, Tafuri, D, Thyrion, FZ, Nunziata, M, Piombino, P, Guerra, G, Motta, G
Aging clinical and experimental research. 2017;(Suppl 1):191-195
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in European country ranges in elderly patients from 4.5 to 12% of population and has a significant effect on quality of life. In these patients, rhinosinusitis is linked to immune functions changes with age and to mucosal paraphysiological alterations such as crusting formations with atrophic epithelium, variations of nasal airflow and modifications of the mucociliary clearance. Failure of medical treatments leads to surgery in patients with persistent symptoms and radiographic signs of CRS. The choice of appropriate post-surgical topic treatments is important for healing time and for preventing mucosal complications such as synechiae, crusting formation and atrophy with secondary bacterial and fungal infections. AIMS Defining the effects of topic alpha-tocopherol acetate administration on nasal mucosa healing after endoscopic sinus surgery in CRS of elderly patients. METHODS In this study were included 32 patients, mean age 68.6, who underwent FESS because affected by CRS not responsive to medical treatments. After surgical treatment, we distinguish two groups basing on local nasal therapy. RESULTS We investigated, in the postoperative time, the role of alpha-tocopherol acetate compared to gomenol oil. Follow-up was performed at 7-15 days and 1-3 months after surgery. We evaluated mucosal restoration using Rhinoscopy Sum Score and quality of life using Nasal Six Items Symptom Questionnaire. We observed a faster healing time and less recurrence of complications in patients who underwent topic treatment with alpha-tocopherol acetate. DISCUSSION In our research, we observed that alpha-tocopherol acetate has no contraindications and side effects. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed the effectiveness of alpha-tocopherol acetate topic treatment in elderly patients affected by CRS after FESS, in improving and speeding up the process of restoring the sinonasal mucosa, compared to another topic medication.
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9.
Infectious agents after liver transplant: etiology, timeline and patients' cell-mediated immunity responses.
Chiereghin, A, Petrisli, E, Ravaioli, M, Morelli, MC, Turello, G, Squarzoni, D, Piccirilli, G, Ambretti, S, Gabrielli, L, Pinna, AD, et al
Medical microbiology and immunology. 2017;(1):63-71
Abstract
Infections continue to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in liver transplant recipients. We retrospectively reviewed the symptomatic infectious episodes that occurred during the first year post-transplant to determine time of onset, causative pathogens and cell-mediated immunity response patterns. Ninety-eight of the 202 (48.5%) recipients enrolled developed at least one infectious episode. The total number of infectious episodes was 135: 77 (57.1%) bacterial, 45 (33.3%) viral and 13 (9.6%) fungal. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli (21 isolates) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (19 isolates). Overall, extended-spectrum beta lactamase-producing and methicillin-resistant organisms were responsible for 29 (29/77; 37.7%) infectious episodes. Members of the herpes virus group, in particular cytomegalovirus (34/45 viral infections, 75.5%), were detected. Candida species (9 isolates) followed by Aspergillus species (4 isolates) were isolated. The majority of infections (63%) occurred during the early post-transplant phase (<1 month), whereas only 8/135 episodes (5.9%) were detected after the sixth month (late phase). Significantly lower median ImmuKnow® intracellular ATP values in patients who developed bacterial and fungal infections compared to infection-free patients were observed (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0016, respectively), whereas patients who developed a viral infection had a median intracellular ATP level not statistically different compared to uninfected patients (P = 0.4). Our findings confirm that bacteria are responsible for the majority of symptomatic infections and occur more frequently during the first month post-transplant. The ImmuKnow® measurements can be a useful tool for identifying patients at high risk of developing infection, particularly of fungal and bacterial etiology.
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10.
Nutrition interventions in patients with gynecological cancers requiring surgery.
Obermair, A, Simunovic, M, Isenring, L, Janda, M
Gynecologic oncology. 2017;(1):192-199
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Including developing countries, between 20 and 88% of gynecological oncology patients may present with at least mild malnutrition at diagnosis. Significant morbidity and mortality is attributed to malnutrition. Here we reviewed randomized clinical trials of nutritional interventions used to achieve early return to oral diet, enhance recovery from surgery and reduce adverse events in gynecological cancer patients undergoing surgery. METHODS Ebscohost (CINAHL+Medline+PsycINFO), Cochrane, Embase, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for articles published from 2000 onwards. Potentially eligible articles were screened by two reviewers. Length of hospital stay (LOS), postoperative complications, recovery of intestinal function, quality of life (QOL), hematological and immunological parameters were outcome measures of the nutritional interventions. RESULTS Seven randomized clinical trials were included in the review. Early clear liquid diet, semiliquid diet, regular diet or immune-enhanced enteral diets were all found to be safe as nutritional interventions. In five of the seven trials significantly better outcomes were observed in the intervention group compared to usual care for one of more of the outcomes intestinal recovery time, LOS, postoperative complications and immunological parameters. However, the nutritional interventions varied greatly between the trials, making it difficult to directly compare their findings. Trial quality was low to moderate. Recommended malnutrition screening and assessment tools and guidelines for treatment are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS From the limited findings it would appear that nutritional interventions of early oral feeding and enteral feeding are safe. Receiving nutritional interventions seems to reduce LOS, intestinal recovery time and postoperative complications for some patients. Increasing use of neoadjuvant treatment may reduce the prevalence of patients presenting malnourished for surgery in the future.