Evaluation of Nutritional Screening Tools - Annotated Bibliography Example

The article shows the effects of both Total enteral nutrition (TEN) and partial enteral nutrition (PEN) among children with active Crohn's disease. The sample consisted of 50 children (26 with 50% of PEN and 24 with 100% of TEN) with a pediatric Crohns disease activity index (PCDAI) >20. During the six weeks of study, the PEN group was allowed to supplement their energy requirement with an unrestricted normal diet whereas the TEN categories were provided only nutrition in liquids. The results showed that both TEN and PEN contributed to a significant reduction in the PCDAI.

However, the research revealed that TEN was more suitable for the treatment of active Crohn's disease as it could suppress inflammation, increase hemoglobin and albumin, and reduce diarrhea whereas PEN failed to suppress inflammation and prevent disease relapse (p. 360). The study shows that nutritional supplementation is comparatively less effective in the treatment in the case of children with active Crohn's disease. Kruis et al. 2004. Maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis with the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 is as effective as with standard mesalazine. Gut. 53(11), 1617–1623.

The article makes a comparative analysis of probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 and mesalazine 500 mg in terms of their effectiveness in treating patients with Ulcerative colitis (UC). The researchers carried out a double-dummy trial among 327 patients with UC; 162 were randomly given probiotic drug 200 mg once daily while the remaining 165 were offered mesalazine 500 mg three times daily (p. 1619). Both the ITT analysis and PP analysis brought out similar results. While the PP analysis showed relapse in 36.

4% patients in the EcN group and 33.9% patients in the mesalazine group, the ITT analysis confirmed the results with a relapse rate of 45.1% and 37.0% respectively (p. 1620). However, the reported adverse events were slightly higher for EcN (42%) in comparison with mesalazine with 35.2% (p. 1620). The study shows that EcN can effectively be used as a safe alternative to mesalazine to prevent the induction of inflammatory reactions among patients with UC.