Assessing Quality of Life with the Novel QLQ-CAX24 Questionnaire and Body Composition Parameters in Rectal Cancer Patients: A Single-Center Prospective Study.

Background: Patients with rectal cancer (RC) are at risk of developing cancer-related cachexia, a complex metabolic syndrome that can negatively impact quality of life (QoL), treatment tolerance, and clinical response.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the possible associations of the novel European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire-Cancer Cachexia (EORTC QLQ-CAX24) scores with body composition parameters and physical performance in patients with locally advanced RC (LARC).

Methods: This prospective observational study involved RC patients evaluated at the dedicated outpatient clinic of Clinical Nutrition at the Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli IRCCS.

Preoperative low skeletal muscle mass index assessed using L3-CT as a prognostic marker of clinical outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients undergoing surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Reduction in muscle mass can be routinely quantified using computed tomography (CT) of the third lumbar vertebra (L3) during a curative pancreatic cancer (PC) course. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the association between preoperative low skeletal muscle index (SMI) measured by L3-CT and postoperative clinical outcomes in PC resectable patients.

Methods: Three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched for articles published through May 2023.

Gastric Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Nutrition: The Role of Microbiota.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the treatment of gastric cancer (GC), which still represents the third leading cause of cancer-related death in Western countries. However, ICI treatment outcomes vary between individuals and need to be optimized. Recent studies have shown that gut microbiota could represent a key influencer of immunotherapy responses.

Impact of body composition parameters on radiation therapy compliance in locally advanced rectal cancer: A retrospective observational analysis.

Background: The impact of body composition and sarcopenia in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is still unclear, even several studies have been published on this issue. Our study aims to analyze the impact of sarcopenia on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) tolerance and survival outcomes.

Methods: This is a retrospective, monocentric study where LARC patients treated between 2010 and 2020 were enrolled.

Microbiota-Gastric Cancer Interactions and the Potential Influence of Nutritional Therapies.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common causes of cancer deaths, and GC treatments represent a large area of research. Although initially regarded as a sterile organ and unsuitable for microbial communities, the discovery of made us realize that some microbes can colonize the stomach. In recent years, growing interest in gastric bacteria has expanded to the gut microbiota and, more recently, to the oral microbiota.

The Role of Gut Microbiota and Leaky Gut in the Pathogenesis of Food Allergy.

Food allergy (FA) is a growing public health concern, with an increasing prevalence in Western countries. Increasing evidence suggests that the balance of human gut microbiota and the integrity of our intestinal barrier may play roles in the development of FA. Environmental factors, including industrialization and consumption of highly processed food, can contribute to altering the gut microbiota and the intestinal barrier, increasing the susceptibility to allergic sensitization.

Metabolic Disorders and Psoriasis: Exploring the Role of Nutritional Interventions.

(1) Background: Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease with a close relationship with metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. The aim of this review was to identify the relationship between psoriasis, metabolic diseases, and dietetic therapies. According to recent findings, there is a strong association between psoriasis and obesity as well as vitamin D and micronutrient deficiencies.

Targeting the Gut Microbiota in Kidney Disease: The Future in Renal Nutrition and Metabolism.

There is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of manipulating the gut microbiome of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This is because there is a substantial deviation from a balanced gut microbiota profile in CKD, with many deleterious downstream effects. Nutritional interventions such as plant-based diets with reduced animal protein intake and the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics may alter the microbiome.

Special Issue "Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Gut Barrier Impact Human Health and Disease": Editorial.

The increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases is a worldwide public health issue, and the role of gut microbiota is becoming evident [...

The role of diet in shaping human gut microbiota.

Gut microbiota plays a fundamental role within human health, and exerts key functions within the human body. Diet is one of the most powerful modulators of gut microbiota functions and composition. This complex interplay involves also the immune system and the intestinal barrier, highlighting the central role of diet in the pathogenesis and treatment of multiple diseases.

COntrolling NUTritional Status (CONUT) as Predictive Score of Hospital Length of Stay (LOS) and Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study in an Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Unit in Italy.

Background: Hospital malnutrition affects nearly 30% of patients in medical wards and correlates with worse outcomes. An early assessment is necessary to stratify the risk of short-term outcomes and mortality. The predictive role of COntrolling NUTritional status (CONUT) score in this context has not yet been elucidated in Western countries.

Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare): an ancient grain, a novel choice for a healthy gluten-free diet.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease related to gluten consumption. To date, the only effective therapy that can reverse symptoms and prevent complications is the gluten-free diet (GFD), which is challenging to maintain and has potential health risks. Identifying foods that can help diversify the GFD and that best match the nutritional needs of people with CD may improve the health and quality of life of celiac patients.

Hospital Services to Improve Nutritional Intake and Reduce Food Waste: A Systematic Review.

Background And Aims: Patients' nutritional intake is a crucial issue in modern hospitals, where the high prevalence of disease-related malnutrition may worsen clinical outcomes. On the other hand, food waste raises concerns in terms of sustainability and environmental burden. We conducted a systematic review to ascertain which hospital services could overcome both issues.

Impact of Diet on Gut Microbiota Composition and Microbiota-Associated Functions in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Animal Studies.

Heart failure (HF) represents a cardiovascular disease with high mortality and morbidity. The latest evidence shows that changes in the composition of the gut microbiota might play a pivotal role in the prevention and management of HF. This systematic review aims at assessing the potential associations between the diet, gut microbiota, and derived metabolites with the outcomes of HF.

Food Emulsifiers and Metabolic Syndrome: The Role of the Gut Microbiota.

The use of emulsifiers in processed foods and the rapid epidemic development of metabolic syndrome in Western countries over the past 20 years have generated growing interest. Evidence for the role of emulsifiers in metabolic syndrome through gut microbiota has not been clearly established, thus making it challenging for clinical nutritionists and dietitians to make evidence-based associations between the nature and the quantity of emulsifiers and metabolic disorders. This narrative review summarizes the highest quality clinical evidence currently available about the impact of food emulsifiers on gut microbiota composition and functions and the potential development of metabolic syndrome.

Lipid-Enriched Parenteral Nutrition and Bloodstream Infections in Hospitalized Patients: Is It a Real Concern?

Today, few clinicians are still convinced that lipids are sepsis risk factors in patients receiving parenteral nutrition. This dogma is principally based on old literature. This review deals with the most recent literature search that provided up-to-date data over the past ten years.

Incidence and Impact of Refeeding Syndrome in an Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Ward of an Italian Tertiary Referral Center: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Refeeding syndrome (RS) is a neglected, potentially fatal syndrome that occurs in malnourished patients undergoing rapid nutritional replenishment after a period of fasting. The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) recently released new criteria for RS risk and diagnosis. Real-life data on its incidence are still limited.

Clinical Impact of Nutritional Status and Sarcopenia in Pediatric Patients with Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Pilot Retrospective Study (SarcoPed).

Background: We evaluated nutritional and sarcopenia status and their clinical impact in pediatric patients affected by bone and soft tissue sarcomas.

Methods: Body mass index (BMI), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and total psoas muscle area (tPMA) at diagnosis and after 12 months were analyzed. tPMA was measured from single cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) images at L4-L5.

Food Additives, a Key Environmental Factor in the Development of IBD through Gut Dysbiosis.

Diet is a key environmental factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and, at the same time, represents one of the most promising therapies for IBD. Our daily diet often contains food additives present in numerous processed foods and even in dietary supplements. Recently, researchers and national authorities have been paying much attention to their toxicity and effects on gut microbiota and health.

The prognostic value of skeletal muscle index on clinical and survival outcomes after cytoreduction and HIPEC for peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hypertermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) represent the most effective strategy to manage peritoneal metastases (PM). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of body composition on clinical outcomes in patients with PM.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using Medline, Web of Science and EMBASE databases from inception to the 20 August 2020.

Vitamin D and colorectal cancer: Chemopreventive perspectives through the gut microbiota and the immune system.

Vitamin D and its receptor are involved in health and diseases through multiple mechanisms including the immune system and gut microbiota modulations. Gut microbiota variations have huge implications in intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders such as colorectal cancer (CRC). This review highlights the preventive role of vitamin D in colorectal tumorigenesis through the effects on the immune system and gut microbiota modulation.

Nutritional Interventions Targeting Gut Microbiota during Cancer Therapies.

The gut microbiome is increasingly being recognized for its influence on intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders such as cancer. Today, diet is the most studied environmental modulator of gut microbiota, capable of altering or improving it in terms of richness and diversity. Recent evidence from several preclinical and clinical trials suggested that gut microbiota composition could modulate cancer therapies (toxicities, treatment responses) and vice versa.

NutriCatt Protocol Improves Body Composition and Clinical Outcomes in Elderly Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery in ERAS Program: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: A poor body composition, often found in elderly patients, negatively impacts perioperative outcomes. We evaluated the effect of a perioperative nutritional protocol (NutriCatt) on body composition and clinical outcomes in a cohort of elderly patients undergoing colorectal surgery in a high-volume center adopting the ERAS program.

Methods: 302 out of 332 elderly (>75 years) patients from 2015 to 2020 were identified.

Gut Microbiota and Environment in Coronary Artery Disease.

In recent years, studies evaluated the associations between coronary artery disease (CAD) and fecal gut microbiota composition. This opens new perspectives on therapeutic strategies to prevent CAD representing the leading cause of mortality in Western societies. We have conducted a review of the literature regarding the characteristics of the gut microbiota of CAD patients, its underlying mechanisms and their associations with pollution and the Western diet.

Body Composition Changes in Gastric Cancer Patients during Preoperative FLOT Therapy: Preliminary Results of an Italian Cohort Study.

Background: The impact of the new chemotherapy, fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) on body composition in gastric cancer (GC) patients remains unknown. We assessed body composition changes of GC patients receiving the FLOT regimen and their impact on treatment outcomes.

Methods: Preoperative pre- and post-FLOT computed tomography (CT) scans of advanced GC patients were studied.