Major gastrointestinal surgery is associated with immune suppression and a high risk of postoperative complications. The aim of this open, randomized controlled trial was to examine the effect of supplementary per oral immunonutrition (IN) seven days before surgery for pancreatic cancer (PC) on postoperative complications and length of hospital stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes were the changes in functional capability and body weight (BW). Consecutive patients referred for surgery for diagnosed or plausible PC were included. The patients in the intervention group received supplementary IN (Oral Impact®, Nestlé) to reach a goal of 1.5 g protein/kg BW. The control group continued their habitual diet. Complications and LOS were independently assessed by the surgical staff. Secondary outcomes were measured 10, 20, and 30 days postoperatively. Thirty-five patients were included, of whom 19 (54%) were allocated to the intervention group. The doses of IN ranged from 250 to 1000 ml per day and the median compliance was 100 (0-100%). Based on the principle of intention-to-treat, no significant differences were found between the groups. We conclude that the lack of effect could be due to the limited dosage of IN, and/or because only 40% of the patients were at nutritional risk.

Context: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and improvement in cardiovascular risk markers, including lipoproteins and lipoprotein subfractions. Objective: To systematically review the relationship between moderate alcohol intake, lipoprotein subfractions, and related mechanisms. Data sources: Following PRISMA, all human and ex vivo studies with an alcohol intake up to 60 g/d were included from 8 databases. Data extraction: A total of 17 478 studies were screened, and data were extracted from 37 intervention and 77 observational studies. Results: Alcohol intake was positively associated with all HDL subfractions. A few studies found lower levels of small LDLs, increased average LDL particle size, and nonlinear relationships to apolipoprotein B–containing lipoproteins. Cholesterol efflux capacity and paraoxonase activity were consistently increased. Several studies had unclear or high risk of bias, and heterogeneous laboratory methods restricted comparability between studies. Conclusions: Up to 60 g/d alcohol can cause changes in lipoprotein subfractions and related mechanisms that could influence cardiovascular health. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. 98955

Alcohol consumption increases circulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), but HDL protein cargo may better reflect HDL function. This study examined the associations between alcohol intake and HDL subspecies containing or lacking apoC3, apoE, and apoJ in a well-phenotyped cohort. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 2,092 Cardiovascular Health Study participants aged 70 or older with HDL subspecies measured in stored specimens from 1998–99. Associations between alcohol intake and apoA1 defined HDL subspecies lacking or containing apoC3, apoE, and apoJ, and circulating levels of total apoA1, apoC3, apoE, and apoJ were examined. HDL subspecies lacking and containing apoC3, apoE, and apoJ were all positively associated with alcohol intake, with ~1% per additional drink per week or ~7% per additional drink per day (subspecies without the apolipoproteins, p≤2×10⁻⁹, subspecies with the apolipoproteins, p≤3×10⁻⁵). Total apoA1 was also directly associated with alcohol consumption, with a 1% increase per additional drink per week (p=1×10⁻¹⁴). Total apoC3 blood levels were 0.5% higher per additional drink per week (p=0.01), but the association was driven by a few heavily drinking men. Alcohol intake was positively associated with HDL subspecies lacking and containing apoC3, apoE, or apoJ, and with total plasma apoA1. ApoC3 was directly, albeit not as robustly associated with alcohol intake. HDL protein cargo is crucial for its anti-atherosclerotic functions, but it remains to be determined whether HDL subspecies play a role in the putative association between limited alcohol intake and lower risk of coronary heart disease.

Background: Sodium deficiency in patients with an ileostomy is associated with chronic dehydration and may be difficult to detect. We aimed to investigate if the sodium concentration in a single spot urine sample may be used as a proxy for 24‐hour urine sodium excretion.Methods: In a prospective observational study with 8 patients with an ileostomy and 8 volunteers with intact intestines, we investigated the correlations and agreements between spot urine sodium concentrations and 24‐hour urine sodium excretions. Spot urine samples were drawn from every micturition during 24 hours, and relevant blood samples were drawn. All participants documented their food and fluid intakes.Results: There was a high and statistically significant correlation between 24‐hour natriuresis and urine sodium concentrations in both morning spot samples (n = 8, Spearman's rho [ρ] = 0.78, P = 0.03) and midday spot samples (n = 8, ρ = 0.82, P = 0.02) in the patients with an ileostomy. The agreement between methods was fair (bias = −1.5, limits of agreement = −32.3 to 29.4). There were no statistically significant associations for evening samples or for samples from volunteers with intact intestines independently of time of day.Conclusion: A single spot urine sodium sample obtained in the morning or midday may estimate 24‐hour urine sodium excretion in patients with an ileostomy and thus help to identify sodium depletion.

Patients with an ileostomy may experience postoperative electrolyte derangement and dehydration but are presumed to stabilise thereafter. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of sodium depletion in stable outpatients with an ileostomy and applied established methods to estimate their fluid status. We invited 178 patients with an ileostomy through a region-wide Quality-of-Life-survey to undergo outpatient evaluation of their sodium and fluid status. The patients delivered urine and blood samples, had bioelectrical impedance analysis performed and answered a questionnaire regarding dietary habits. Out of 178 invitees, 49 patients with an ileostomy were included; 22 patients (45%, 95% CI, 31–59%) had unmeasurably low urinary sodium excretion (<20 mmol/L), indicative of chronic sodium depletion, and 26% (95% CI, 16–41%) had plasma aldosterone levels above the reference value. Patients with unmeasurably low urinary sodium excretion had low estimated glomerular filtration rates (median 76, IQR 63–89, mL/min/1.73m²) and low venous blood plasma CO₂ (median 24, IQR 21–26, mmol/L), indicative of chronic renal impairment and metabolic acidosis. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, plasma osmolality, creatinine and sodium values were not informative in determining sodium status in this population. A high proportion of patients with an ileostomy may be chronically sodium depleted, indicated by absent urinary sodium excretion, secondary hyperaldosteronism and chronic renal impairment, despite normal standard biochemical tests. Sodium depletion may adversely affect longstanding renal function. Future studies should investigate methods to estimate and monitor fluid status and aim to develop treatments to improve sodium depletion and dehydration in patients with an ileostomy.