Membrane damage by human islet amyloid polypeptide through fibril growth at the membrane.

Fibrillar protein deposits (amyloid) in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans are thought to be involved in death of the insulin-producing islet beta cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has been suggested that the mechanism of this beta cell death involves membrane disruption by human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), the major constituent of islet amyloid. However, the molecular mechanism of hIAPP-induced membrane disruption is not known.

Early nutritional supplementation immediately after diagnosis of infectious disease improves body weight in psychogeriatric nursing home residents.

Background And Aims: Many elderly people with Alzheimer's disease experience weight loss. Illness and inadequate regain after a period of illness are considered as contributory causes of progressive weight loss in psychogeriatric patients. We studied whether early use of a liquid nutrition supplement immediately after onset of acute illness from infection can prevent weight loss in elderly psychogeriatric nursing home residents.

Pressure ulcer care: nutritional therapy need not add to costs.

Fewer patients with pressure ulcers in Dutch nursing homes receive nutritional therapy via sip feeds, possibly because of cost concerns. But this therapy would not cost more if it reduced the duration of nursing care by even one day, this paper argues.

Study of the effect of a liquid nutrition supplement on the nutritional status of psycho-geriatric nursing home patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the acceptance of a multinutrient liquid nutrition supplement in psycho-geriatric nursing home patients and the effect on weight, plasma nutrients and activities of daily life.

Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week intervention study.

Setting: Two nursing homes in Boxtel, The Netherlands.