Healthy Frio: A Rural Community Partnership to Advance Latino Obesity Research
ObesityNutrition Poor2 moreMuch has been learned about the efficacy and effectiveness of comprehensive healthy lifestyle interventions to reduce obesity. Few studies have been translated into rural settings or among Latinos. Y Living is an evidence-based family-focused intervention (FI) designed for urban Latino families. The FI is a 12-week behavioral modification program grounded in social cognitive theory, designed to engage the whole family in lifestyle changes by developing knowledge and skills in physical activity and healthy eating, building skills in goal-setting and self-monitoring, and creating a supportive home environment. Researchers will engage community partners in formative research to adapt the current FI for rural Latino families. Two parallel delivery methods of the FI will be developed and tested: 1) in-person group setting at a community center (FI-IP) and 2) home-based delivered remotely with technology (FI-RT). Both will be designed to address the unique social, cultural and environmental factors facing rural Latino families. The FI-RT will take advantage of innovative modern technology and e-Learning to increase program availability, accessibility and participation in rural settings. Researchers will conduct a 3-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare effectiveness of the two delivery approaches on weight loss (primary outcome) and energy balance behaviors (secondary outcomes) among obese Latino parent-child pairs versus control. The researchers will recruit 270 obese Latino adults (ages 21-65) with a child (ages 8-17) from three primary care practices in rural South Texas. These parent-child pairs will be randomized to one of three arms stratified by clinic: 1) FI-IP (n=90); 2) FI-RT (n=90); or 3) control group (n=90). Primary specific aims are to: 1) Conduct community-engaged formative studies to transform the existing FI into two unique delivery methods (FI-IP and FI-RT) for use in a subsequent RCT in a rural Latino community; and 2) Conduct a RCT to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of FI-IP and FI-RT to address weight loss (primary outcome) and energy balance behaviors (secondary outcomes) among obese rural Latino adults compared with adult participants in control group at immediate post intervention (3 months), after a 3-month maintenance program (6 months post randomization) and a 6-month follow-up (12 months post randomization). A secondary aim is to examine the impact of FI-IP and FI-RT children's weight and energy balance behaviors.
Passive Dietary Intake Assessment Study
Dietary Intake AssessmentPassive Dietary Monitoring1 moreCurrently, there is no accurate measurement of dietary intake. All current methodologies of assessing dietary intake have inaccuracy rates of 30 -70%. Accurate assessment of dietary intake is critical in understanding individual and population nutritional status and monitoring the effectiveness of public health interventions to maintain nutritional health. Estimating dietary intake in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is remarkably challenging, albeit the high presence of malnutrition and the critical need for evidence-based data to inform policies and programmes on nutrition and health. This study aims to develop and validate a low-cost and robust system for accurate measurement of an individual's dietary intake in households in LMICs. This innovative system passively recognises food, records intake, and estimates nutrient content of food. The system will be validated in field trials in Ghana and Kenya.
Zinc Absorption From Zinc Biofortified Rice in Bangladeshi Children
Malnourished ChildrenIt is well documented that zinc supplementation to low-income population results in the reduced incidence of childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia, and improves growth of stunted children. In Bangladesh, the risk of zinc deficiency is considered to be high and children could benefit greatly by improving their zinc intakes on a daily basis. Zinc supplementation at a national scale would be a formidable task. There is a need to find an alternative. It might be sustainable to improve intake of zinc through fortified staples, e.g. rice with increased amounts of zinc; in fact such biofortified rice has been developed through conventional breeding, which is designed to contain an amount of zinc that could meet at least 40% of the daily requirement. In the first round of the previously approved and completed studies, total absorbed zinc (TAZ) did not differ when diets containing zinc biofortified rice (ZnBfR) or conventional rice (CR) were compared. Thus, the current study is planned to repeat using a new variety of (ZnBfR) that is expected to have higher zinc content than the variety previously studied. Initially, a pilot study will be conducted in 4 participants using a modified isotope administration protocol such that the oral tracers will be given on two days each at half the original dose each day so as to provide a lower proportion of the total daily zinc intake as tracer solution. Hypotheses: Young children will have greater total absorbed zinc (TAZ) when they consume mixed diets containing ZnBfR than when they consume the same diets containing CR. TAZ will not differ in children who receive the ZnBfR-containing diet or the same diet containing CR plus sufficient additional zinc to match the zinc content of the ZnBfR diet. Objectives: To measure the amount of zinc absorbed from ZnBfR compared with the amount absorbed from CR and from CR fortified with added zinc, using the triple stable isotope tracer ratio technique in young children. To assess the intestinal function of the children, using a sugar permeability test (lactulose:mannitol test). (Pilot study) To verify that the modified tracer dose will provide adequate signal for assessing zinc absorption. Methods: To assess the potentials for biofortified rice in providing a good, bioavailable source of additional zinc, it is proposed here to measure zinc absorption from rice-based meals among Bangladeshi preschool children. The amount of zinc absorbed from ZnBfR compared to that absorbed from a conventional Bangladeshi rice (Diet-CR) (control) will be measured. Zinc absorbed from ZnBfR with that from zinc-fortified conventional rice (Diet-CR+Z) will also be compared. The study will be a cross-over, randomized, controlled clinical study. Initially, a pilot study will be conducted with a modified dose of zinc stable isotope among 4 children aged 36-59 months of either sex from a peri-urban community in Dhaka. Later on, 44 children aged 36-59 months of either sex will be recruited from the same community as mentioned before, and they will be individually randomized, in equal numbers, to one of the two comparison groups, A and B. During an initial one-day acclimatization period, the study children will receive the conventional rice based diet three times a day, to confirm that they will accept the study diets and adhere to the study procedures. On study days 2 and 4, in comparison group A, the study subjects will receive either the Diet-ZnBfR or Diet-CR based on the random assignments, and they will receive Diet-CR or Diet ZnBfR, respectively, on days 3 and 5 (i.e., the diet not received on days 2 and 4), Likewise, in comparison group B, the study subjects will receive either Diet-ZnBfR or Diet-CR+Z on days 2 and 4 based on the random assignments, and they will receive Diet-CR+Z or the Diet-ZnBfR, respectively, on days 3 and 5 (i.e., the diet not received on days 2 and 4). Zinc stable isotope tracer techniques will be used to measure the fractional absorption of zinc, in which tracer : tracee ratios will be measured in spot urine samples following administration of an intravenously administered tracer (68Zn) and one of two oral tracers (70Zn, 67Zn) provided with test meals over a four-day period. Outcome measures/variables: Intake of total dietary zinc (TDZ) and phytate for each subject will be calculated during the clinical study. Fractional absorption of zinc (FAZ) will be determined from the isotopic ratios obtained in urine samples using the following equation, which shows, as an example, the calculation that will be used for zinc absorption from the diet traced with 67Zn: FAZ = 67Zn tracer:tracee ratio / 68Zn tracer:tracee ratio * (68Zn dose given IV / 67Zn dose given orally) Total absorbed zinc (TAZ) for each child will be calculated as follows: TAZ (mg/d) = TDZ (mg/d) * FAZ
Azithromycin as Adjunctive Treatment for Uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition
MalnutritionChild1 moreAmoxicillin is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Because children with uncomplicated SAM may have asymptomatic infection due to immune suppression, presumptive treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic may be beneficial by clearing any existing infection and improving outcomes. Two randomized placebo-controlled randomized trials have evaluated amoxicillin for uncomplicated SAM and have found conflicting results. These results may indicate either that antibiotics are not helpful for the management of uncomplicated SAM, or that a better antibiotic is needed. Recently, we demonstrated that biannual mass azithromycin distribution as a single oral dose reduces all-cause child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Children with uncomplicated SAM, who have an elevated risk of mortality relative to their well-nourished peers, may particularly benefit from presumptive azithromycin treatment. Our pilot data demonstrated feasibility in rapid enrollment of children with uncomplicated SAM in our study area, and showed no significant difference between azithromycin and amoxicillin, demonstrating equipoise for a full-scale trial. Here, we propose an individually randomized trial in which children will be randomized to a) azithromycin, b) amoxicillin, or c) placebo, and evaluated for differences in weight gain, nutritional recovery, and the gut microbiome. The results of this study will strengthen the evidence base for policy related to the use of antibiotics as part of the management of uncomplicated SAM, including additional evidence of amoxicillin versus placebo as well as evaluation of an antibiotic class that has not been considered for uncomplicated SAM, which may lead to changes in guidelines for treatment.
The Role of Cobamamide Supplements in Malnourished Patients
MalnutritionThe trial is conducted to observe the effectiveness of cobamamide supplements in improving the clinical state malnourished patients.
Evaluation of Sarcopenia-Related Malnutrition in Older Adults
SarcopeniaMalnutritionSarcopenia and malnutrition are two geriatric syndromes that are frequently seen in the elderly and have multifactorial etiology and severe clinical effects. However, the results vary widely due to the many methods and criteria used in the diagnosis and prevalence rates of both syndromes. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the relationship between the GLIM (Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition) criteria and various sarcopenia levels, which are newly defined worldwide and have the widest spectrum so far in describing malnutrition.
Liberia National Community Health Assistant (NCHA) Program and Under-five Mortality
MalariaDiarrhea3 moreLast Mile Health (LMH) has partnered with the Liberian Ministry of Health (MOH) to support the design and implementation of the National Community Health Assistant Program (NCHAP). In collaboration with MOH, LMH is planning to conduct an impact evaluation in Grand Bassa to assess the effect of the National Community Health Assistant Program (NCHAP) on health outcomes, as well as to learn lessons around program operations and implementation. Our central hypothesis is that Community Health Assistants (CHAs) within the NCHAP will reduce under 5 mortality, as a result of expanding access to and uptake of health care utilization in remote communities. We will use a mixed effects discrete survival model, taking advantage of the staggered program implementation in Grand Bassa districts over a period of 4 years to compare the incidence of under-5 child mortality between the pre- and post-CHW program implementation periods.
MalnutritiOn Assessment With biOelectrical impedaNce Analysis in gastRic Cancer patIentS Undergoing...
Gastric CancerGastric Adenocarcinoma2 moreThe aim of this single-arm prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study is to evaluate the nutritional status and body composition on tumor regression grade with bioelectrical impedance analysis in gastric cancer patients undergoing multimodal treatment. Results of this study will reveal whether nutritional status and body composition assessment based on bioelectrical impedance analysis will become a validated and objective tool to support clinical decisions in gastric cancer patients undergoing multimodal treatment.
the Safety and Effectiveness of Protein Supplements on Cancer Patients With Nutritional Risk and...
CancerMalnutritionNutritional risk and malnutrition is common in cancer patients, which is one of the significant factors affecting the overall survival, toxicity during anticancer treatment, and quality of life among patients with cancer. Previous studies have shown that the increased protein intake can stimulate muscle synthesis, and improve muscle mass, strength, function, overall survival, and quality of life. The current study is going to investigate the effectiveness and safety of protein supplements on patients with cancer, in order to provide a reference for further nutrition treatment.
Nutrition Care Process in Mexican Older Adults
MalnutritionThe aim of this clinical trial is to determine the efficacy at 12 months of the application of the nutrition care process in the eating habits of older adults in the state of Colima, Mexico compared to a conventional nutritional intervention. The main questions it aims to answer is: what is the efficacy of the application of the nutrition care process vs. a conventional nutritional intervention on the eating habits of older adults in the state of Colima, Mexico after 12 months of follow-up?