Browsing by Author "Velasco, Nicolas"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Burying, not broadcasting seeds improves the seedling establishment of most woody species under different ecological conditions in a semiarid ecosystem of central Chile
    (2022) Becerra, Pablo, I; Aqueveque, Naijem; Velasco, Nicolas
    The importance of the sowing method (broadcasting or burying) for seedling establishment, and the extent to which environmental conditions modulate differences between these sowing methods, are understudied. When seeds are buried, they may be exposed to soil conditions with higher moisture content than broadcast. This advantage may occur especially under drier soil conditions within a semiarid climate, such as with less precipitation, open sites, and in presence of herbaceous layer. In this study we conducted an experiment to compare the seedling establishment of 13 woody species between a buried sowing and broadcast, under different conditions of precipitation, shade, and herbaceous layer in a degraded semiarid grassland of central Chile. For each species, some seeds were sown by burying them to a depth of 1 cm and others were broadcast. Orthogonally, we applied two irrigation treatments to simulate a dry and a rainier year, two shade treatments simulating the canopy of woody plants and open sites (with vs. without), and two treatments of herbaceous layer (without vs. with). Establishment was monitored for 10 months between July 2016 and March 2017. Species richness of established seedlings was greater when seeds were buried than broadcast under all environmental conditions. The seedling density per species was greater when seeds were buried than broadcast in nine species, although in some cases this depended on environmental conditions. We conclude that, burying seeds of woody species is more effective and can be a widely applicable restoration method for different environmental conditions and species in semiarid ecosystems.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    GLIM Criteria for the Diagnosis of Malnutrition: A Consensus Report From the Global Clinical Nutrition Community
    (2019) Jensen, Gordon L.; Cederholm, Tommy; Correia, M. Isabel T. D.; Gonzalez, M. Christina; Fukushima, Ryoji; Higashiguchi, Takashi; de Baptista, Gertrudis Adrianza; Barazzoni, Rocco; Blaauw, Renee; Coats, Andrew J. S.; Crivelli, Adriana; Evans, David C.; Gramlich, Leah; Fuchs-Tarlovsky, Vanessa; Keller, Heather; Llido, Luisito; Malone, Ainsley; Mogensen, Kris M.; Morley, John E.; Muscaritoli, Maurizio; Nyulasi, Ibolya; Pirlich, Matthias; Pisprasert, Veeradej; de van der Schueren, Marian; Siltharm, Soranit; Singer, Pierre; Tappenden, Kelly A.; Velasco, Nicolas; Waitzberg, Dan L.; Yamwong, Preyanuj; Yu, Jianchun; Compher, Charlene; Van Gossum, Andre
    Background This initiative aims to build a global consensus around core diagnostic criteria for malnutrition in adults in clinical settings. Methods The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) was convened by several of the major global clinical nutrition societies. Empirical consensus was reached through a series of face-to-face meetings, telephone conferences, and e-mail communications. Results A 2-step approach for the malnutrition diagnosis was selected, that is, first screening to identify at risk status by the use of any validated screening tool, and second, assessment for diagnosis and grading the severity of malnutrition. The malnutrition criteria for consideration were retrieved from existing approaches for screening and assessment. Potential criteria were subjected to a ballot among GLIM participants that selected 3 phenotypic criteria (non-volitional weight loss, low body mass index, and reduced muscle mass) and 2 etiologic criteria (reduced food intake or assimilation, and inflammation or disease burden). To diagnose malnutrition at least 1 phenotypic criterion and 1 etiologic criterion should be present. Phenotypic metrics for grading severity are proposed. It is recommended that the etiologic criteria be used to guide intervention and anticipated outcomes. The recommended approach supports classification of malnutrition into four etiology-related diagnosis categories. Conclusions A consensus scheme for diagnosing malnutrition in adults in clinical settings on a global scale is proposed. Next steps are to secure endorsements from leading nutrition professional societies, to identify overlaps with syndromes like cachexia and sarcopenia, and to promote dissemination, validation studies, and feedback. The construct should be re-considered every 3-5 years.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Splanchnic ischemia and gut permeability after acute brain injury secondary to intracranial hemorrhage
    (2007) Hernandez, Glenn; Hasbun, Pablo; Velasco, Nicolas; Wainstein, Carol; Bugedo, Guillermo; Bruhn, Alejandro; Klaassen, Julieta; Castillo, Luis
    Introduction Splanchnic ischemia (SI) and increased gut permeability (GP) have been described in acute brain injury (ABI), although their incidence and relation to the type and severity of injury are uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of both abnormalities in a series of patients with severe ABI secondary to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) managed with a resuscitation protocol pursuing adequate cerebral and systemic hemodynamics.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Validation of self-applicable questionnaire for a Mediterranean dietary index in Chile
    (SOC MEDICA SANTIAGO, 2016) Echeverria, Guadalupe; Urquiaga, Ines; Jose Concha, Maria; Dussaillant, Catalina; Villarroel, Luis; Velasco, Nicolas; Leighton, Federico; Rigotti, Attilio
    Background: Availability of brief dietary indexes that can effectively evaluate dietary patterns and their association with health is critical for prevention and management of several chronic disease conditions. Aim: To adapt a self-applicable Mediterranean Dietary Index in Chile (Chilean-MDI). Material and Methods: The Chilean-MDI was developed based on a previous Mediterranean eating score that was adapted to Chilean dietary habits. This index was further validated in a sample of 153 adults by comparing the concordance between the results obtained by self-application of the Chilean-MDI with those obtained by a trained nutritionist. Additionally, the index was applied in a sample of 53,366 Chilean adults in order to describe the diet quality of our population. Results: There was an adequate concordance between findings obtained by self-application of the Chilean-MDI and those achieved by the nutritionist. The application of the index in Chilean adult population showed abetter diet quality (high Mediterranean diet adherence) among women, with advanced age and among people with higher educational levels. Conclusions: The Chilean-MDI can be successfully self-applied to portray the overall diet quality in the Chilean adult population. Additionally, this dietary index describes overall food intake in Chilean adults, showing demographic trends that are comparable to those obtained with similar indexes applied in other populations.