BackgroundNumerous studies have investigated the role of the dietary factors in the prevention of cognitive decline but the short-term effects of foods choice on cognitive performances in the elderly are poorly explored. Our aim was to investigate the choice of foods among elderly Italian individuals and the association with cognitive function.MethodsIn this longitudinal study, the participants were 214 individuals aged ≥65 years with a score >20 at the Mini Mental State Examination. The cognitive sub-test of ADAScale was used to detect cognitive decline progression over 12 months. Food choices was measured by a combination of a 24-h recall and a seven-day diet record and Principal Components Analysis.ResultsThe Principal Components Analysis identified four food and four nutrient patterns. MMSE and ADAS-cog score after 1 year were found to be associated with legumes pattern (B = 0.25, p = 0.007; 95% CI 0.07/0.44; and B = −0.10, p = 0.006; CI −0.79/−0.30, respectively). A dietary pattern including plant proteins was independently associated with an improved ADAS-cog after 1 year (B = 0.584, p = 0.04; OR 1.79, CI 0.04–0.42).ConclusionsThe Principal Components Analysis is useful to investigate the choice of foods and nutrients in the elderly. We demonstrated an association between legumes pattern with cognitive performances.
BackgroundThe association between malnutrition and worse outcomes as pressure ulcers and mortality is well established in a variety of setting. Currently none investigation was conducted in patients with long-term consequences of the acquired brain injury in which recovery from brain injury could be influenced by secondary complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between various nutritional status parameters (in particular albumin) and pressure ulcers formation and short-term mortality in minimal conscious state patients.MethodsIn this prospective, observational study of 5-months duration, a 30 patients sample admitted to a Neurological Institute was considered. All patients underwent a complete medical examination. Anthropometric parameters like mid-arm circumference and mid-arm muscle circumference and nutritional parameters as serum albumin and blood hemoglobin concentration were assessed.ResultsAt univariate and logistic regression analysis, mid-arm circumference (p = 0.04; beta = −0.89), mid-arm muscle circumference (p = 0.050; beta = −1.29), hemoglobin (p = 0.04, beta −1.1) and albumin (p = 0.04, beta −7.91) were inversely associated with pressure ulcers. The area under the ROC curve for albumin to predict sores was 0.76 (p = 0.02) and mortality was 0.83 (p = 0.03). Patient with lower albumin had significantly higher short-term mortality than those with higher serum albumin (p = 0.03; χ2 test = 6.47).ConclusionAlbumin, haemoglobin and mid-arm circumference are inversely associated with pressure ulcers. Albumin is a prognostic index in MCS patients. Since albumin and haemoglobin could be affected by a variety of factors, this association suggests to optimize nutrition and investigate on other mechanism leading to mortality and pressure ulcers.
Objective: After a bypass surgery blood pressure can go up for multiple reasons among which are: the pain of the cut, stress and tense of the patient unsure about the future and because some of the blood pressure medication, which the patient was receiving preoperatively may get withdrawn post operatively, thereby leading to shooting up the blood pressure. In certain patients, the blood pressure actually comes down after surgery and returns back to the pre-operative levels 4 to 6 weeks down the track, at the time the blood pressure medicines are introduced. We aimed to investigate the incidence of high blood pressure after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) in patients referred to our in-house cardiac rehabilitation program.Objective: Hypertension is a major risk factor for the atherosclerosis. The main objectives of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention are to reduce morbidity and mortality, improve quality of life, and increase the chances of a longer life
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.