Malnutrition

Researchers are evaluating the +AGIL Barcelona program to help older adults improve their physical abilities and delay disability. This study focuses on frail older adults aged 65 and above and aims to assess how well the program can be adapted and expanded to different community health centers in Barcelona. The study uses a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial design involving three primary care centers, with a total of 396 participants. The program is based on a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and guided by the World Health Organization's Integrated Care for Older People framework, focusing on improving intrinsic capacity and preventing disability. Participants will engage in up to 10 weekly group exercise sessions led by a physiotherapist, focusing on resistance, endurance, balance, and flexibility. Exercises are tailored to individual needs and supported with materials designed for low literacy or cognitive challenges. In addition, participants receive nutritional guidance for a Mediterranean diet, screening and counseling for swallowing and cognitive issues, sleep hygiene advice, medication reviews for optimization, and support to connect with community resources to reduce social isolation. After the initial 10-week intervention, the program encourages continued activation through local gyms, civic centers, and other community facilities. Throughout the study, participants' physical performance will be measured using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) at the start, after 3 months, and again at 6 months. Researchers will also assess participants' experiences and how the program is implemented across sites. The study aims to provide practical information on how to deliver effective, community-based programs that support healthy aging and independence in older adults.

All currently existing longevity measures are surrogate endpoints that have not been prospectively validated against actual mortality and aging outcomes. The 100-Year Human Aging Study is a prospective, pragmatic, observational trial that addresses this gap by enrolling participants in comprehensive clinical screening and following them longitudinally until death to determine which measurements - alone and in combination - are predictive of mortality, serious disease, and functional disability. The study prioritizes dynamic measurements: the physiological, cognitive, social, and environmental capacities that change with aging and are most likely to carry predictive signal for mortality and functional outcomes. These include cardiorespiratory fitness (cardiopulmonary exercise testing with ventilatory threshold analysis), strength (grip, explosive power, functional movement), mobility and balance, neurocognitive performance, sensory function (vision, hearing, smell, light touch), and metabolic function (oral glucose tolerance, continuous glucose monitoring), in addition to other testing. Structural and imaging assessments include body composition and bone mineral density by DEXA, echocardiography, resting and stress electrocardiography, spirometry, retinal fundus photography, and vascular ultrasound. Laboratory measures are drawn on-site and processed through a CLIA-certified reference laboratory. Complete medical, surgical, family, social, occupational, and environmental histories are obtained at each visit. Participation ranges from single-service visits - including standalone DEXA, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and physician consultation - to the full two-visit comprehensive screening battery. All participation pathways contribute clinical data to the longitudinal mortality and aging outcomes linkage framework regardless of service level. Participants are encouraged to return for repeat testing to build longitudinal health trajectories across the lifespan. At enrollment and across longitudinal follow-up, the study platform generates individualized investigational constructs including biological age estimate, predicted death age, and predicted cause of death profile. These are explicitly investigational hypotheses, not validated clinical standards. Their predictive validity relative to actual mortality, aging outcomes, and functional disability is a central scientific question this study is designed to answer - both for individual measures and for composite multi-system models. All data are archived in their highest-dimensional raw form to preserve the ability to apply future analytical methods retroactively. Participants are followed with periodic contact and offered repeat screening throughout the lifespan. Longitudinal outcomes ascertainment includes all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, incident serious health events, chronic disease diagnosis, functional independence, disability status, and health behavior change.

Children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) suffer from poor intestinal absorption due to loss of large portions of the small intestine, requiring intravenous nutrition (parenteral nutrition or PN) to maintain hydration and nutrition. However, long-term PN can cause serious complications such as liver failure. This research evaluates an enzyme cartridge called RELiZORB, designed to improve fat digestion and absorption directly via tube feeding, potentially reducing or eliminating the need for intravenous nutrition in children aged 2 to 18 years who depend on PN. The study is a 90-day, phase 3, open-label clinical trial assessing the safety, tolerability, and nutrient absorption effectiveness of the RELiZORB enzyme cartridge. RELiZORB is connected inline with enteral feeding tubes to predigest fats, mimicking pancreatic lipase activity and enabling better fat absorption without requiring intestinal emulsification. Children will use the device daily while receiving their enteral nutrition through a feeding pump at specified rates, with no changes in feeding formulas or rates allowed for at least one month prior to starting. The study will evaluate changes in PN calorie requirements over time and monitor treatment-emergent adverse events. Participants will undergo assessments including growth measurements, fecal fat analysis, plasma fatty acid levels, and monitoring of PN volume and enteral/oral nutrition intake at multiple time points during the 90-day period. Researchers will track safety and tolerability, recording adverse events grade 2 or higher. The main outcome is the effect of RELiZORB on fat absorption and reduction of PN calories. Parents or guardians will provide consent and assist with clinic visit attendance and study procedures throughout the trial.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and often leads to serious nutritional problems, including cancer-related malnutrition and cachexia. About 31% of patients experience these issues, which contribute significantly to mortality. The disease and its treatment, especially concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), worsen muscle and fat loss through tumor factors and inflammation. This weight loss during CCRT is linked to increased risk of death. Researchers are studying nanocrystalline megestrol acetate (MA), a drug that may help by stimulating appetite and reducing inflammation. This nanocrystalline form has better absorption and faster effects than traditional MA. The trial compares nanocrystalline MA (625 mg daily) combined with CCRT versus CCRT alone in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Treatment lasts up to 8 weeks or until the disease progresses. Participants will be monitored for changes in body mass index (BMI) over the treatment period. Additional assessments include nutritional status, inflammatory markers, and quality of life. The study aims to determine if nanocrystalline MA can improve weight and reduce muscle loss during cancer treatment. The total treatment and observation period is up to 8 weeks.

Researchers are evaluating two different methods to increase fruit consumption among Swedish students aged 7 to 19 years. This study, part of a European project focused on childhood obesity prevention, aims to improve healthy eating habits by providing fruit in schools and testing whether adding an awareness campaign increases fruit intake and affects snacking behaviors. The study focuses on understanding which approach better supports healthy dietary habits in school settings. The intervention involves placing fruit stands with two types of fruit in central areas of participating schools, where students can freely take fruit during school hours. Digital scales built into the stands track the amount of fruit taken by weighing the fruit at multiple times throughout the day. In some schools, an additional awareness campaign with posters and messages is used alongside the fruit stands to encourage fruit consumption. Students use a mobile app to photograph and document all meals and snacks before, during, and after the intervention periods. Participants will be involved in three data collection periods: before the fruit stands are introduced, during the early intervention while fruit stands are available, and after the intervention to assess lasting changes. Researchers collect data through app entries, scale readings, and photographs to monitor fruit uptake, eating patterns, and potential food waste. The main outcome measured is the change in fruit consumption from enrollment until 10 weeks after. The study also evaluates the feasibility of digital monitoring and aims to support future strategies for promoting fruit consumption in schools.

Researchers are studying early detection and risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in adults with advanced liver disease, specifically liver cirrhosis of various causes. This prospective multicenter study aims to compare ultrasound and abbreviated MRI (AMRI) as surveillance methods for HCC. The research also investigates how body composition, including fat and muscle mass, relates to imaging features, disease progression, and HCC risk. Participants undergo regular clinical assessments and imaging tests at set intervals to monitor liver lesions and body composition. The study focuses on lesions at high risk for HCC, using both ultrasound and MRI-based LI RADS criteria across multiple visits up to 18 months. Muscle mass is also evaluated at baseline and follow-up visits. The study tracks liver-related clinical events from enrollment for a total of 24 months. Throughout the study, participants receive structured evaluations including imaging, clinical assessments, and muscle scoring. Researchers collect longitudinal data to develop prediction models for HCC risk and liver disease outcomes. The study monitors incident HCC cases, liver complications, and mortality to better understand disease progression and surveillance effectiveness in advanced liver disease.

This research aims to evaluate a personalized digital treatment designed for adolescents aged 15 to 18 with eating disorders. The study investigates the feasibility, preliminary clinical outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of this digital approach within a child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient setting. It uses both qualitative and quantitative methods, including semi-structured interviews, to understand the treatment's acceptability, adherence, and impact on symptoms of eating disorders. Participants will undergo a 10-week therapist-guided digital treatment program focused on reducing eating disorder symptoms and improving life-coping skills. The treatment helps adolescents gain knowledge about eating disorders, manage food and activity balance, regulate emotions, build self-esteem, and cope with social challenges. Weekly therapist contact supports participants throughout the intervention. Throughout the study, participants complete self-report questionnaires at multiple time points: before treatment, during, after the 10-week program, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Measures include treatment credibility, adherence, satisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, clinical impairment, and quality of life. Researchers will also evaluate recruitment success and gather detailed patient experiences through interviews. The study aims to identify who benefits most and understand the treatment's overall utility and cost-effectiveness.

Researchers are conducting a Phase 1B open-label dose escalation study to evaluate AV-380 in cancer patients experiencing cachexia, a condition involving severe weight loss and muscle wasting. AV-380 is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind to the growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a protein involved in cancer-related cachexia. The study aims to assess the safety, how the drug moves through and affects the body (pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics), and its potential immune response effects in patients actively receiving standard cancer treatments. Participants will receive increasing doses of AV-380 alongside their standard of care chemotherapy to determine appropriate dosing and monitor for any adverse effects. AV-380, a biological therapy, targets GDF-15 to potentially impact cachexia symptoms. The study involves treatment periods lasting up to four months, with careful observation during drug administration and follow-up visits. Throughout the study, participants will be closely monitored for adverse events, toxicity, and laboratory abnormalities from the time of enrollment through approximately 60 days after the last dose. Safety assessments and laboratory tests will be regularly conducted to evaluate the body's response to AV-380. The study involves active cancer patients with cachexia, with various evaluations to understand the drug's safety profile and effects over the study duration.

Researchers are evaluating a multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) model for the early detection of cancer-associated cachexia in pancreatic cancer patients. The study also explores the feasibility and acceptability of diet and exercise interventions to manage cachexia. This observational study uses retrospective data from the Florida Pancreas Collaborative along with prospective data from newly diagnosed patients at Moffitt Cancer Center. Participants will undergo a baseline lifestyle and symptom assessment that includes dietary questionnaires, symptom and quality of life surveys, physical activity surveys, functional fitness tests, DEXA scans, and blood draws. Extended lifestyle monitoring involves wearable devices like Fitbit and surveys on diet and physical activity preferences at 9 months. Additionally, a one-time structured survey will assess how diet and exercise interventions can be integrated into clinical care. Throughout up to 9 months of participation, researchers will monitor AI model performance, survey completion rates, wearable adherence, changes in quality of life, and physical activity. Participants will complete various assessments and surveys to track symptoms, function, and lifestyle. This study aims to gather comprehensive data to support early cachexia detection and explore intervention strategies in pancreatic cancer care.

This research aims to collect data and test the accuracy of an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm designed to measure length in infants and young children up to 24 months old. The study focuses on improving this AI tool by using machine learning techniques to enhance its measurements and comparing AI-predicted lengths with the gold standard physical measurements. Caregivers and healthcare professionals will participate by providing images, videos, and physical length measurements. Caregivers will use smartphones or tablets with internet access to capture and upload images and videos of their infants or young children. These data, along with physical length measurements taken by healthcare professionals, will be used to train and improve the AI algorithm. Additionally, feedback on user experience will be collected to explore further enhancements. Participants will be involved from enrollment through data collection, which includes physical measurements and media uploads. Researchers will assess the accuracy of the AI algorithm versus caregiver measurements by evaluating length data collected at baseline. Safety and adherence will be monitored by ensuring caregivers can follow study instructions and provide consent. The study targets children from birth up to 24 months old, with caregiver participation throughout the process.