Online Courses/Modules
To learn nutritional screening and assessment; the methods used; To know the benefits and limits of laboratory and balance-studies for nutritional assessments; To be aware of the importance of the routine screening all patients for malnutrition and
of the continued monitoring of those at risk; To learn how body composition can be measured and to learn how reliable these measurements are; To know the components of energy expenditure in human beings; To know the methods for measurement of
energy expenditure; To be able to define how energy intake influences energy expenditure; To be aware of malnutrition; To know how to screen, assess, and monitor patients for nutritional risk and for response to nutritional support. Improvement
of competencies and skills in CN, application of effective CN in the treatment of disease and health promotion; To acquire tools to interpret new scientific information, and link with nutrition, better practical management of nutritional support.
The modules of this Topic summarize the evidence, and provide recommendations for clinical practice regarding the following 4 issues:
1. Cow's milk protein allergy as the commonest food allergy in infants and young children.
2. Intestinal
failure, as the most severe form of the chronic GUT disorder is discussed in respect to parenteral and enteral nutrition approach.
3. Current strategies to feed the very low birth weight infant from birth to discharge form the hospital. Focus
on early provision of nutritional support in order to achieve optimal growth and development.
4. Many risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease in adulthood are present in children including obesity, hyperlipidaemia, sedentary lifestyle
and poor nutrition. Nutritional intervention is the primary approach in the management of dyslipidaemias in children and essential complementary intervention in children needing pharmacotherapy.
Topic 6 Malnutrition
The health status and disease require regular intake of appropriate quantity and quality of nutrients. All dietary components: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water are essential for balanced diet. Nutrients can be delivered
via enteral and parenteral route. Standard diets are suitable for most patients, while disease specific formulas or immunodiets has been modified to create optimal conditions for treatment and to increase nutritional status in aspect of disease
related disorders.
Innovative approaches to increase nutritional intake of normal food in hospital patients. Sip feeding as supplemental nutrition. If oral nutrition cannot be maintained, artificial EN using a feeding tube may be used. Main indications and contraindications
for EN, which formulae should be used in which conditions, the metabolic effects of specific nutrients added to some formulae and the most important complications of EN. Disease-specific enteral formulae. Correct placement of the feeding tube
to avoid dislocation and aspiration. "Know- how" to monitor patients on enteral nutritional (EN) support.
Topic 9 details how to approach PN in order to improve competency and skill in clinical nutrition to more effectively treat disease and promote health. You will be able to: identify indications for PN; know the risks and benefits of different i.v.
access; know different PN systems and their advantages and limits; know and mitigate compounding risks using GMP, and understand the pharmacist's responsibilities for admixing services; understand risks of mixing i.v. drugs and PN; realise serial
monitoring is a vital tool for achieving optimal results; understand how to implement monitoring protocols to optimise PN and prevent or quickly detect complications; and acquire tools to interpret new scientific information, genetic predisposition
and link with nutrition.
To review basic concepts of parenteral nutrition (PN) in infants, children and adolescents in different phases of disease.
To review parenteral feeding requirements, including macronutrients and micronutrients;
To be able to initiate EN and
to wean the patient from continuous tube feeding;
To review possible complications of paediatric PN as well as strategies for their prevention and management;
To discuss principles and specificities of EN in children;
To describe
nutrient composition of various EN formula;
To discuss issues of enteral versus parenteral nutrition;
To discuss relation of under- and overfeeding in infancy and childhood in relation with chronic diseases in adulthood.
This topic has been developed to provide practical information on the organisational aspects of nutritional care, as well as the ethical, legal and human rights approaches to clinical nutrition. In the first module, participants will learn about the principles of nutritional care and the importance of the nutritional care process, as well as recognising the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to nutritional care. The second and third modules will address the ethical foundations and dilemmas in nutritional care practice. In particular, the most common cultural implications of nutritional care will be explored, and the main ethical issues and dilemmas in nutritional therapy. The principlism approach in the context of clinical nutrition will also be examined in these modules. The fourth module studies access to nutritional care based on the human rights approach. The right to nutritional care is presented as a human right linked to the rights to health and food Nutrition therapy is understood to be a medical therapy that requires an indication, a reachable therapeutic goal, and the patient's consent. The human rights approach to clinical nutrition should not imply an obligation to feed patients under any circumstances or at any stage of life. Neither patients nor healthcare professionals can invoke the 'right to food' to justify prolonged feeding if medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is not indicated, is futile, or may cause harm.
Nutritional Support in Gastrointestinal Diseases focusses on intestinal failure and inflammatory bowel disease. There are separate Modules on pathogenesis, on the identification and management of short bowel syndrome and on enterocutaneous fistulas,
in addition to one addressing nutritional issues in Crohn's disease (and to a lesser extent in ulcerative colitis). The Topic intends to provide a practical guide to a complex area of nutritional practice that is often misunderstood.
To learn the consequences of malnutrition in liver cirrhosis; To know how to diagnose malnutrition in liver cirrhosis and how to treat malnutrition in liver cirrhosis; The understand the metabolic problems of patients with acute liver failure; The caveats regarding administration of glucose and amino acids; To learn how to discriminate between patients with mild or severe pancreatitis; To appreciate the impact of adequate nutritional support on clinical outcome in patients with acute pancreatitis; To learn about the benefits and the risks of enteral and parenteral nutrition in patients with acute pancreatitis; To learn the best approach to nutritional support in patients with severe and complicated acute pancreatitis; To know about the physiology and pathophysiology of chronic pancreatitis (CP); To know the treatment goals in CP with respect to nutrition; To understand the indications for different nutritional interventions in CP. Improvement of competencies and skills in CN, application of effective CN in the treatment of disease and health promotion; To acquire tools to interpret new scientific information, genetic predisposition and link with nutrition, better practical management of nutritional support.
To learn the consequences of malnutrition in liver cirrhosis; To know how to diagnose malnutrition in liver cirrhosis and how to treat malnutrition in liver cirrhosis; The understand the metabolic problems of patients with acute liver failure; The caveats regarding administration of glucose and amino acids; To learn how to discriminate between patients with mild or severe pancreatitis; To appreciate the impact of adequate nutritional support on clinical outcome in patients with acute pancreatitis; To learn about the benefits and the risks of enteral and parenteral nutrition in patients with acute pancreatitis; To learn the best approach to nutritional support in patients with severe and complicated acute pancreatitis; To know about the physiology and pathophysiology of chronic pancreatitis (CP); To know the treatment goals in CP with respect to nutrition; To understand the indications for different nutritional interventions in CP. Improvement of competencies and skills in CN, application of effective CN in the treatment of disease and health promotion; To acquire tools to interpret new scientific information, genetic predisposition and link with nutrition, better practical management of nutritional support.
Assessment of needs was completed by Profes. Skills Survey for CN of competence to assess a nutritional status of the patients and approaches to improve it. The LLL program was developed aiming: to improve competencies and skills in CN, to encourage
an application of effective CN in the treatment of disease and health promotion, tools to interpret new scientific information, genetic predisposition and link with nutrition, continuous development for practical management of nutritional support.
The phenomenon of stress encountered after surgeries is a useful response but if not controlled can lead to auto cannibalism. The counter regulatory hormones and inflammatory response to surgery causes insulin resistance and hyperglycemia which increases
complication and mortality in postoperative critically ill patients. Insulin resistance can be reduced by use of anaesthesia and analgesis, asting. as well as preoperative metabolic preparation using carbohydrates instead of overnight fasting.
Preoperative loading of carbohydrates has shown to reduce nitrogen losses and retain body mass. Prehabilitation is a new programe in order to condition high risk patients 4-6 weeks before surgery. The more classical nutritional therapy nutritional
support has to be considered on individual basis, preoperative enteral or parenteral feeding in malnourished patients for seven to 14 days may be associated with reduction of post operative morbidity. Postoperative ileus is caused by inhibitory
sympathetic activity of bowel, mid thoracic epidural analgesia promotes postoperative bowel function by blocking inhibitory reflexes, and also helps avoid the use of opioids that inhibit gut motility. Maintaining postoperative fluid balance is
another key factor in preventing postoperative ileus. Malnourished patients are more prone to complication.
Understanding of the physiologic and metabolic changes during acute illness. Energy requirements and macronutrient utilization. Protein metabolism and its importance. Screening and assessment of malnutrition. Specific situations related to previous
nutrition status (severe undernutrition, obesity, sarcopenia), comorbidity (cancer, age, renal or liver failure, ...), and previous stay in the hospital. Determination of nutritional prescription (calories, protein), choice of the route, decision
regarding timing (early enteral or parenteral nutrition), requirement of supplemental parenteral nutrition. Choice of special nutrients and in which conditions: glutamine, omega 3 fatty acids, various lipid emulsions, high protein feeding, probiotics,
vitamins and trace elements in special conditions (CRRT, liver failure, ARDS, ECMO). Adaption of the nutritional regimen according to the progress of the patient in the course of his therapy. Prevention of frailty during stabilization and preparing
for best rehabilitation.
Learn about epidemiology and the extent of the use of HPN in adult patients; Learn about indications for HPN in adult patients and clinical features (including prognosis) of these patients; Understand the importance of training and monitoring patients on home parenteral nutrition; Learn about common practice on training and monitoring; Learn about different central venous access devices (CVAD); Catheter related complications of infectious and mechanical origin; Strategy to prevent problems and treatment of complications; To learn about the feeding of the incurable cancer patient (why, which and how); To understand the impact of HPN on survival and quality of life; Withdrawing HPN; How to adapt nutrition support in HPN patients? What are the nutritional needs of a patient? How to cover the needs for a patient? How to evaluate PN dependence?; Learn about identifying the main metabolic HPN complications in adult patients; Learn how to prevent and cure these complications. Improvement of competencies and skills in CN, application of effective CN in the treatment of disease and health promotion, To acquire tools to interpret new scientific information, genetic predisposition and link with nutrition, better practical management of nutritional support.
To understand the potential of nutrition in cancer prevention. To understand specific behaviours that can modify cancer risk. To gather insights into the role of gene-diet interaction in determining response to dietary components.
To understand
the mechanisms leading to osteopenia and osteoporosis. To appreciate the role of protein malnutrition in the development of osteoporosis. To understand the role of bone-muscle axis. To understand how to implement effective strategies for primary
and secondary nutritional prevention of osteoporosis.
To understand the role of nutrition in the prevention of neurological disorders, focusing on the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders. To understand the role of specific food components
and nutrients in the prevention and course-modification of neurological diseases.
To understand that the risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is closely dependent upon lifestyles. To understand the role of specific nutrients and food components
in modulating the biochemical, molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying CVD.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder with disturbances not only of carbohydrate metabolism but lipid and protein metabolism as well. At diagnosis, Type 1 DM may be associated to malnutrition. However, Type 2 DM patients are generally
obese and may have a relative reduction of fat free mass. Micronutrient deficiencies have been identified as risk factors for development of DM and poorer metabolic control, although therapeutic interventions have met variable success, depending
on each individual micronutrient. When patients with stress hyperglycemia or DM require artificial nutrition, they may need the combination of insulin protocols and special formulas characterized by changes of the quality and/or quantity of carbohydrates
and lipids, adjusting the energy provision to the nutritional requirements and metabolic control. The indications for specific formulas in diabetic patients are adjusted to the clinical setting and to the metabolic control achieved in the in individual
patient.
Dyslipidemia (DL) is an important cause of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. It can also cause pancreatitis and skin deposit of lipids. International scientific societies have issued clinical guidelines. The recommendations for diagnosis
and management of these disorders may vary among them. It is advisable that health care providers choose the guidelines that better adapt to local cardiovascular risk and patterns of established disease. Along with statins and fibrates, new drugs
have recently joined the therapeutic options for dyslipidemia such as antibodies to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, (PCSK 9), cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotides and Inhibitors of the
microsomal triglyceride transport protein (MTP). On the other hand, systemic inflammatory response is characterized by changes in lipid metabolism. When artificial nutrition is prescribed patients may experience lipid metabolism alterations due
to primary lipid disorders or to the associated disease requiring special nutrition. Therefore, this prescription should carefully take into consideration lipid metabolism, as well as quality and quantity of lipids. Periodic laboratory checking
will indicate the changes that may be needed to minimize these disturbances.
Obesity is one of the most frequent diseases all over the world. It is associated to many complications in all organs and systems of the body and makes difficult the management of these disorders. Genetic and environmental factors interplay in its
pathophysiology. Along an intrinsic predisposition, cultural and lifestyle patterns, characterized by excess energy intake and limited physical activity, lead to weight excess. Epidemiological studies have analyzed the associations of macro and
micronutrients to the development of obesity. There are also numerous studies about different dietetic approaches, combined with physical activity and behavioral changes. Drug therapy may be indicated when BMI is above 30 kg/m2 and
bariatric surgery may be considered for BMI higher than 35 kg/m2, if there are associated comorbidities than can improve with weight loss and there has been failure to lose weight with conventional measures. Long term follow up is mandatory
after bariatric surgery to contribute to the prevention of weight regain.
The Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a clustering of metabolic alterations including central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia. It carries increased risk of diabetes and long term cardiovascular disease (CVD), although short - term
CV risk is better predicted by other means. Insulin resistance (IR) is a major underlying factor in the MS, with profound implications in terms of metabolic and CV morbidity.
Causes of IR are complex: altered adipose tissue endocrine functions,
altered lipid metabolism also in non-adipose tissues, inflammation and oxidative stress are emerging as the key players. Important roles are also attributable to altered nutrient sensing in the gut and CNS. Measurement of IR with reliable surrogates
provides an important tool for effective management of metabolic and CV risk in MS patients. Regarding therapeutic approaches, lifestyle modification improves diabetes and CV risk and is the first step in the treatment of MS. Modest weight loss
and light physical activity significantly reduce IR. However, behavioral strategies are necessary to achieve long term success in maintaining adequate food intake and exercise. Finally, drug therapy of MS should address each of its components
to prevent diabetes and CV disease and to reduce overall mortality. Metabolic effects and safety profile of each drug should be carefully considered.
To identify different factors that may favour malnutrition in patients with neurological diseases. To understand the main characteristics of dysphagia and its relevance for nutritional support in patients with neurological diseases. To know the gastrointestinal
consequences of neurological disease, relevant for nutritional support. To recognize the clinical consequences of malnutrition in patients with neurological diseases.
To know the deleterious consequences of energy and protein deficits in acute
brain and spinal injuries. To know the most appropriate macronutrients needs: amount, time, and route. To know the reasons for undernutrition and the strategies to treat them.
To understand the most frequent reasons for nutrition in a stroke
patient. To know the compulsory assessment leading to decision of nutritional support. To understand the respective indications of oral and enteral feeding, and the best enteral feeding route according to the clinical situation. To know the outcome
of a stroke patient receiving enteral nutrition.
To know about nutritional intervention in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson's disease. To know the problems of clinical decision making in the timing/safety/efficacy of
PEG tube feeding in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. To understand the clinical challenge of establishing and maintaining a tube feeding in neurological patients with advanced dementia. To discuss the indications for gastrostomy in neurological
patients with advanced dementia. To know the ethical, legal, and moral implications of nutritional support in patients with neurodegenerative disorders with progressive dementia.
Cancer cachexia is a systemic syndrome characterized by muscle loss, whose pathogenesis is triggered by tumour-induced inflammatory response and exacerbated by radio-chemotherapy. Consequently, appetite is disrupted and muscle protein catabolism is increased. Cachexia is clinically relevant since it increases morbidity and mortality. The effective treatment should be based on appropriate timing of nutritional support, modulation of inflammatory response and physical activity. Anti-cachexia drugs should also be integrated by nutritional support.
To understand the changes in body composition with ageing; To know the prevalence of undernutrition according to the subject's life setting; To know the factors contributing to undernutrition in the elderly; To know the main medical consequences of
undernutrition; To know that elderly subjects are at risk for micronutrient deficiency; To know the recommended strategies for screening and assessing undernutrition; To know when and how to use nutritional supplements, and the results of this
supplementation; To know the most frequent indications for artificial nutrition in the elderly; To know the techniques and outcome; To know the indications and results in specific clinical situations; To understand the need for ethical elements
alongside the medical ones in deciding upon starting an elderly patient on artificial nutrition. Improvement of competencies and skills in CN, application of effective CN in the treatment of disease and health promotion; To acquire tools to interpret
new scientific information, genetic predisposition and link with nutrition, better practical management of nutritional support. To understand sarcopenia, its causes, consequences, screening and interventions.
Explain the influence of exercise intensity, duration and mode, as well as of training status, diet and gender, on substrate utilization during exercise; Present the latest findings on the effect of physical activity and inactivity on ad libitum energy intake and on energy balance regulation; Clarify nutritional recommendations for endurance, strength and power sports; Discuss impact of physical activity on primary and secondary prevention of chronic diseases.
To learn about the assessment and prevalence of nutritional depletion in in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); To understand the importance of weight loss and nutritional depletion, the mechanisms, the consequences and reversibility of
weight loss and muscle wasting in COPD; To develop an overview of the results of clinical trials of nutritional support in COPD; To understand the aims of nutritional support in COPD and how support programmes might integrate with other therapies;
To understand the reasons why nutritional support programmes might be unsuccessful; To learn about the magnitude of the burden of the disease and the systemic involvement of chronic respiratory failure; To learn about the integration of nutritional
support in pulmonary rehabilitation including exercise training for patients with systemic chronic inflammatory diseases as chronic respiratory failure. Improvement of competencies and skills in CN, application of effective CN in the treatment
of disease and health promotion; To acquire tools to interpret new scientific information, genetic predisposition and link with nutrition, better practical management of nutritional support.
To undestand the available evidence-based effectiveness and efficacy of nutritional therapy in clinical practice. Define evidence to support the case of nutrition in the Health Care System.
To give a world overview of success and failures in recognition
by Health Care System of the need of Nutrition Units/Support systems.
To understand that communication skills help to overcome barriers.
To acquire and practice communication skills to convince administrators, patients, lay people that
nutrition plays a crucial and cost-effective role in disease prevention and treatment and in the prevention and treatment of disease-related nutritional disorders.
The educational need of this course is to understand how to write a project, to plan a study, to report the new data in a good quality paper, and to perform
an adequate oral communication to meetings.
Upon the course, there will be a focus on the potential issues concerning research governance, on the pitfalls associated with research and publication.