Malnutrition

Researchers are evaluating the +AGIL Barcelona program to help frail older adults improve their physical abilities and delay disability. This study focuses on adapting and expanding the program across different community health centers in Barcelona. It aims to measure improvements in physical performance using a simple test (SPPB) and assess how well the program can be implemented in various neighborhoods. The program includes up to 10 weekly group exercise sessions led by a physiotherapist, emphasizing strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance. Participants receive personalized exercises supported by easy-to-understand materials. The program also offers advice on healthy habits like the Mediterranean diet, sleep improvement, and managing swallowing or memory issues. Medication reviews are conducted to ensure safe and appropriate treatments, and support is provided to connect participants with local activities to reduce social isolation. Participants will be involved in assessments of their physical performance, quality of life, cognitive function, social engagement, diet adherence, medication use, and any adverse events at the start, three months, and six months. The study uses a stepped approach to introduce the program at different sites gradually. Researchers will also gather qualitative feedback on participants' experiences and program implementation. The total participation duration includes baseline and follow-up visits over six months.

Researchers are conducting the 100-Year Human Aging Study, an observational trial designed to follow participants over their lifespans to investigate which health measurements can predict mortality, serious diseases, and functional disability. The study aims to validate many longevity measures that currently lack prospective evidence by tracking physiological, cognitive, social, and environmental factors that change with aging. This research will generate important data to improve understanding of aging and longevity medicine. Participants undergo comprehensive multi-system clinical screenings including tests like cardiopulmonary exercise testing, body composition assessment by DEXA, echocardiography, electrocardiography, spirometry, neurocognitive testing, sensory assessments, metabolic testing, and detailed medical and social histories. The study allows for different levels of participation, from single tests to full two-visit screening batteries, and encourages repeat testing to capture health changes over time. During the study, participants receive individualized reports including investigational estimates of biological age and predicted cause of death. Researchers collect data on mortality, serious health events, chronic diseases, functional ability, and lifestyle changes through periodic follow-up over many years, potentially up to 100 years. This extensive data collection helps evaluate how well these measurements predict aging outcomes. All data are stored in raw form for future analysis and participants are supported with ongoing contact and opportunities for repeat assessments.

This research aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and nutrient absorption of the RELiZORB enzyme cartridge in children aged 2 to 18 years with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) who depend on parenteral nutrition (PN). SBS causes inadequate intestinal absorption due to significant loss of small bowel, requiring intravenous nutrition to maintain hydration and nutrition but leading to complications such as liver failure. The study explores whether predigesting fats with RELiZORB can improve absorption and reduce reliance on PN. The RELiZORB device is an enzyme cartridge connected to enteral feeding tubes that mimics pancreatic lipase to digest fats before they enter the gut, aiming to improve fat absorption without the need for bile acid emulsification. Participants will receive tube feeding through the device daily for 90 days. The study monitors changes in PN calories over time, along with growth, fecal fat, plasma fatty acids, and nutrition intake. Participants will be assessed at multiple time points during the 90-day treatment to evaluate PN calorie reduction and nutritional status. Safety and tolerability will be monitored by recording adverse events. The study involves regular clinical visits, laboratory tests, and nutrition assessments to measure the effectiveness of RELiZORB in improving enteral nutrition absorption and supporting growth while reducing PN dependence.

Locally advanced cervical cancer is a common cancer in women worldwide and often leads to serious nutritional problems like malnutrition and cachexia. This condition worsens during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), especially due to treatments like platinum-based drugs, which cause muscle loss and weight loss, increasing mortality risk. Researchers are studying nanocrystalline megestrol acetate (MA), a drug that may help stimulate appetite and reduce inflammation, aiming to improve nutritional status and treatment outcomes in these patients. This clinical trial compares two groups of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer undergoing CCRT: one group will receive nanocrystalline megestrol acetate oral suspension at 625 mg daily for up to 8 weeks, and the other will receive CCRT alone. The nanocrystalline form of MA has better absorption and faster onset of effect than traditional forms, potentially leading to improved weight gain and reduced muscle wasting. The study will measure body mass index (BMI), appetite, lean body mass, treatment completion, and side effects related to radiotherapy. Participants will be monitored for changes in BMI during the 8-week treatment period, alongside assessments of appetite using a specific scale, survival rates, and inflammatory markers. Regular lab tests will evaluate organ function and safety. The trial will also track adverse events and quality of life. The total participation duration for each patient is up to 8 weeks of treatment, with ongoing assessments to understand the drug's impact on nutrition and cancer treatment tolerance.

Researchers are evaluating two approaches to increase fruit consumption among students in Swedish schools. The study is part of a Europe-wide project aiming to promote healthier eating habits and prevent childhood obesity by improving fruit availability in school settings. It compares providing free fruit stands alone versus fruit stands combined with a health-awareness campaign to see which better supports healthy eating. Participating schools are randomly assigned to either have fruit stands offering two types of fruit during school hours or fruit stands plus an educational campaign promoting healthy eating. Digital scales in the fruit stands monitor fruit uptake, while school staff record these measurements. Students use a mobile app to photograph and log all their meals and snacks before, during, and after the intervention to track fruit intake and eating patterns. Students contribute data during three periods: before the fruit stands are introduced, immediately after their introduction, and after the intervention ends to assess lasting effects. Researchers analyze changes in fruit consumption and eating behaviors, as well as monitor food waste using weight-based digital tracking. The study aims to identify effective strategies for promoting fruit intake in schools and supports broader efforts to encourage healthy diets among children and adolescents.

Researchers are investigating early detection and risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in adults with advanced liver disease, specifically those with liver cirrhosis from various causes. This prospective multicenter study aims to compare ultrasound and abbreviated MRI (AMRI) as surveillance tools to assess their ability to detect HCC, as well as to study how body composition, such as fat and muscle levels, relates to disease progression and HCC risk. Participants with cirrhosis undergo regular clinical evaluations and imaging tests at set intervals, including ultrasound and abbreviated MRI scans. The study collects detailed data on body composition and tracks clinical outcomes like liver-related complications and mortality. These assessments occur over multiple visits, including baseline and follow-ups at 6, 12, and 18 months, with additional monitoring for up to 24 months to observe new cases of HCC and disease progression. During the study, participants receive structured exams, imaging, and body composition measurements at each visit. Researchers evaluate lesion risk for HCC using LI-RADS criteria and measure muscle mass through the Muscle Assessment Score. They also monitor liver stiffness and organ volumes at baseline and follow-up visits. The study's goal is to develop prediction models based on these clinical and imaging data to better understand HCC risk and liver disease progression over time.

Researchers are evaluating the feasibility and preliminary clinical outcomes of a personalized digital treatment designed for adolescents with eating disorders aged 15 to 18 years. The study aims to understand who benefits from this digital approach, how acceptable and credible it is to participants, and the cost-effectiveness of delivering such treatment in routine child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient care. The intervention includes a therapist-guided digital program consisting of 8 modules delivered over 10 weeks, with weekly therapist contact. Participants will complete self-report questionnaires before, during, and after the treatment, as well as at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The study also involves semi-structured phone interviews with some participants to explore their experiences with the treatment. Participants will be asked to complete various validated questionnaires assessing eating disorder symptoms, general psychopathology, quality of life, and treatment satisfaction throughout the study period. Adherence to the treatment and participant experiences will be monitored, along with health and social outcomes such as school attendance and emotional regulation. Data collection occurs online, and the total follow-up extends to six months after treatment completion.

Researchers are evaluating AV-380, an immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody designed to bind human growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a cytokine involved in cancer-induced cachexia. This phase 1B open-label dose escalation study aims to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity of AV-380 in cancer patients who have cachexia and elevated GDF-15 levels. Participants have metastatic solid tumors and are actively receiving standard of care chemotherapy. Participants receive AV-380 through intravenous infusion in ascending dose cohorts alongside their standard chemotherapy treatments. The study includes a dose escalation phase where the safety and appropriate dosage of AV-380 are evaluated. This phase allows researchers to monitor the effects of increasing doses of AV-380 over a study period of up to 4 months while patients continue their usual cancer therapies. During the study, participants will undergo assessments including monitoring for adverse events, toxicity, and laboratory abnormalities from enrollment until about 60 days after the last dose. Pharmacokinetic measures such as maximum concentration (Cmax), time to maximum concentration (Tmax), and area under the curve (AUC) will also be evaluated. The total involvement includes regular evaluations to track safety, drug behavior in the body, and immune responses to AV-380.

Researchers are evaluating a multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) model for the early detection of cancer-associated cachexia in patients with pancreatic cancer. This observational study also aims to assess how feasible and acceptable diet and exercise interventions are for managing cachexia. The study will analyze both retrospective data from the Florida Pancreas Collaborative and prospective data from newly diagnosed patients at Moffitt Cancer Center. Participants include patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma at various stages, along with oncology clinicians involved in their care. The study involves baseline lifestyle and symptom assessments using dietary questionnaires, quality of life and symptom surveys, physical activity surveys, functional fitness tests, DEXA scans, and blood draws. Extended monitoring includes wearable devices such as Fitbit, diet and activity preference surveys at 9 months, and a one-time survey to assess the integration of diet and exercise into clinical practice. During the study, participants will complete surveys and wear activity monitors for up to 9 months to track quality of life, physical activity changes, and adherence to wearable devices. Researchers will evaluate the AI model's performance and survey completion rates. The study also monitors physical fitness and health status through tests and questionnaires to better understand cachexia management. This involvement helps gather comprehensive data on patient health and the practicality of lifestyle interventions in pancreatic cancer care.

Researchers are evaluating the use of a high protein egg white pudding as a nutritional supplement for people with kidney failure who are on dialysis. The study aims to find out if giving this egg white pudding after dialysis is practical and whether it can improve blood protein levels, frailty, dietary intake, and other blood markers compared to a standard supplement called Ensure Plus. This trial is conducted by Seven Oaks Hospital Chronic Disease Innovation Centre. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the egg white protein pudding or Ensure Plus at the end of their dialysis treatments three times a week for 12 weeks. Both supplements are dietary and taken during the dialysis sessions. The study collects data during this 12-week intervention period to evaluate the effects of the two supplements. During the study, participants will be monitored for their ability to stay in the trial, adherence to the supplements, and health measures such as hand grip strength, walking speed, balance, and blood levels including serum albumin and electrolytes. These assessments occur at the end of the 12 weeks. The trial also tracks recruitment and follow-up rates to evaluate feasibility. Overall, participants are involved in regular supplement intake and health testing during dialysis over three months.