Impact of energy intake on the survival rate of patients with severely ill stroke.

Introduction: Stroke accounts for approximately 10% of all deaths. We examined whether energy intake influences the survival rate of severely ill stroke patients.

Methods: We analyzed 86 consecutive severely ill stroke patients.

Changes of energy metabolism, nutritional status and serum cytokine levels in patients with Crohn's disease after anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy.

We investigated the effects of treatment with antibodies against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on energy metabolism, nutritional status, serum cytokine levels in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Twelve patients were enrolled. Resting energy expenditure (REE) levels were measured by indirect calorimetry.

Which is more effective to prevent enteral nutrition-related complications, high- or medium-viscosity thickened enteral formula in patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy?: a single-center retrospective chart review.

Background: Administration of thickened enteral formula (TEF) through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube is becoming a common practice in Japan to prevent enteral nutrition (EN)-related complications. However, what constitutes an adequate viscosity of TEF remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical effects of TEFs with different viscosities administered through PEG.

Determinant factors of the viscosity of enteral formulas: basic analysis of thickened enteral formulas.

Background: Thickened enteral formula (TEF), which is made by adding thickener to enteral formula, has been used mainly in Japan to reduce the incidence of clinical complications associated with enteral nutrition. However, the optimal viscosity of TEF needed to achieve a high efficiency is different for each medical complication and for individual patients.

Methods: The viscosity of TEF, which consists of enteral formula and thickener, was determined by 5 factors: (1) formula energy density, (2) formula temperature, (3) stirring speed, (4) stirring time, and (5) time elapsed since preparation.

Nutrition assessment as a predictor of clinical outcomes for infants with cardiac surgery: using the prognostic nutritional index.

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine whether nutrition assessment helps predict clinical outcomes (COs) in infants who have undergone cardiac surgery.

Methods: Study subjects were infants, aged less than 18 months, who had undergone cardiac surgery between April 2007 and August 2008. The nutrition parameters assessed include Onodera's prognostic nutritional index (PNI), height for age, weight for height, and weight for age.