Assessing appetite

An ongoing assessment is important in evaluating the patient s response to therapy, such as a decrease in temperature, the relief of symptoms caused by the infection (eg, pain or discomfort), an increase in appetite, and a change in the appearance or amount of drainage (when originally present). The nurse notifies the primany health care provider if symptoms of the infection appear to worsen. The nurse checks the patient s skin regularly for rash and is alert for any loose stools or diarrhea... 

IM BALANCED NUTRITION. When a narcotic is prescribed for a prolonged time, anorexia (loss of appetite) may occur. Those receiving a narcotic for the relief of pain caused by terminal cancer often have severe anorexia from the disease and the narcotic. The nurse assesses food intake after each meal. When anorexia is prolonged, tiie nurse weighs the patient weekly or as... 

The nurse takes vital signs every 4 to 8 hours, depending on the patient s condition. The nurse evaluates the patient s response to drug therapy based on original assessments. Responses that may be seen include a decrease in pain, an increase in appetite, and a feeling of well-being. 

Griffiths, RR. Brady, J.V. and Snell, J.D. Relationship between anorectic and reinforcing properties of appetite suppressant drugs Implieations for assessment of abuse liability. Biol Psychiatry 13 283-290, 1978. 

Assess symptoms of HF such as dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea, weight gain, and edema, and abdominal manifestations such as nausea, bloating, and loss of appetite. 

This patient has the subjective symptoms of weight loss, decreased appetite, shortness of breath, and cough. Abnormal laboratory values include elevated temperature, decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit, and decreased CD4 count. Chest x-ray shows diffuse interstitial infiltrates bilaterally. Physical exam reveals thrush. The assessment is possible AIDS with CD4 count of 150 cells/mm3, thrush, a respiratory illness (possibly Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia), and anemia of chronic disease. He also has a history of hepatitis B, hypertension, and GERD (on famotidine), poor adherence to his anti hypertensive medications, and likely has an irregular daily regimen due to his occupation as a truck driver. 

While the dog is a carnivore, it is able to adapt to an omnivorous diet. Requirements for dietary sources of energy, amino acids, glucose precursors, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and water have been established based on recommendations by the National Research Council (NRC, 1985). Adult beagles maintained in a laboratory environment function well with one feeding of standard laboratory chow per day. In safety assessment testing, however, some compounds may induce serious dietary deficiencies through induced loss of appetite, malabsorption, or vomiting, and, in these cases, it may be advisable to provide a dietary supplement. 

The newest appetite suppressant, sibutramine (Meridia), works by blocking the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine. It does not stimulate nerve cells to release serotonin, as do fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine. Administered at 20 mg/ day, sibutramine effectively reduces weight in obese patients, but its use has not been assessed in eating disorder patients. The most common side effects of this medication are insomnia, dry mouth, and constipation. It has not been associated with the more serious heart and lung complications observed with fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine. Because sibutramine acts in part through modulation of norepinephrine, there is no rational basis for coadministering phentermine, which acts via this same mechanism. 

Medical illness commonly affects parameters such as sleep, appetite, and energy level that are often used in diagnostic assessment. 

Institute of Medicine (IOM), a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, publishes the report Marijuana Assessing the Science Base, which concluded that cannabinoids showed significant promise as analgesics, appetite stimulants, and anti-emetics, and that further research into producing these medicines was warranted. 

Khan MA, Herzog CA, St Peter JV, et al. The prevalence of cardiac valvular insufficiency assessed by transthoracic echocardiography in obese patients treated with appetite-suppressant drags. N Engl J Med 1998 339 713-718. 

In a 7-month open study 39 patients (mean age 52 years 26% men) taking olanzapine (mean dose 15 mg/ day) had limited non-significant improvement in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test for cognitive assessment (48). The following adverse events were considered to have been treatment-related weight gain (n = 6), extrapyramidal disorders (n = 2), and increased appetite, weakness, and confusion (n = 1 each). 

An IPC procedure assessed recoveries of urinary catecholamines during an innovative sample clean-up [95] and was optimized to avoid interferences by anti-TB drugs [96]. Adrenergic amines were determined in a variety of bitter orange-containing dietary supplements marketed as appetite suppressants a sodium dodecyl sulfate IPR and fluorescent detection were used [97]. Similarly, two classes of compounds. 

Monitor for clinical efficacy and toxicity. Warn patients to report t drowsiness, malaise and anorexia. Measure amylase and lipase if toxicity is suspected. Tramadol causes less respiratory depression than other opiates, but need to monitor BP and blood counts and advise patients to report wheezing, loss of appetite and fainting attacks. Need to consider reducing dose. Methadone may cause Q-T prolongation the CSM has recommended that patients with heart and liver disease on methadone should be carefully monitored for heart conduction abnormalities such as Q-T prolongation on ECG, which may lead to sudden death. Also need to monitor patients on more than 100 mg methadone daily, and thus t plasma concentrations necessitates close monitoring of cardiac and respiratory function 2. Recommended that a small test dose (one-quarter of the usual dose) be administered initially to assess response... 

Coriandrum sativum L. Conundrum sativum L. (coriander) belongs to the Apiaceae family and is cultivated worldwide for its nutritional value and medicinal properties (relief of pain, anxiety, flatulence, loss of appetite, and convulsions). The effects of inhaled coriander volatile oil (1-3 %) extracted from Coriandrum sativum var. microcarpum on spatial memory performance were assessed in an Ap2 2 rat model of AD. Exposure to coriander volatile oil improved spatial memory, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) specific activities along with an elevation of malondial-dehyde (MDA) level [288],... 

Hyperammonemias are caused by inborn errors of ureagenesis and organic acidemias, liver immaturity (transient hyperammonemia of the newborn), and liver failure (hepatic encephalopathy). Neonatal hyperammonemias are characterized by vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, seizures, and coma. The underlying defects can be identified by appropriate laboratory measurements (e.g., assessment of metabolic acidosis if present and characterization of organic acids, urea cycle intermediates, and glycine). 

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