The condensed tannins of Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana Pierre): A molecular structure and thermal stability study.

In order to promote convenient strategies for the valorization of Aucoumea klaineana Pierre (Okoume) plywood and sawmill wastes industry in the fields of adhesives and composites, the total phenolic content of Okoume bark, sapwood and heartwood was measured. The molecular structure of tannins extracted from the bark was determined by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight (Maldi-ToF) mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The total phenolic content displayed significant difference (p = 0.001) between the bark, sapwood and heartwood which decreased as follows: 6 ± 0.4, 2 ± 0.8 and 0.7 ± 0.1% respectively. The pro-anthocyanidins content was also significantly different (p = 0.01) among the three wood wastes, and the bark was the richest in condensed tannins (4.2 ± 0.4%) compared to the sapwood (0.5 ± 0.1%) and heartwood (0.2 ± 0.2%). Liquid chromatography coupled mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) and Maldi-ToF analysis of the bark showed for the first time that Okoume condensed tannins are fisetinidin, gallocatechin and trihydroxyflavan based monomers and complex polymers obtained with glycosylated units. No free catechin or robitinidin units were detected, whereas distinctive dihydroxy or trihydroxyflavan-3-benzoate dimers were observed in the investigated condensed tannin extracts. FTIR analysis showed the occurrence of glucan- and mannan-like sugars in the condensed tannins, and Maldi-ToF highlighted that these sugars should account for ten glycosylated units chemically bonded with two fisetinidins and one gallocatechin trimer. The condensation of these polyphenols with formaldehyde led to Stiasny numbers of 83.3, 73.3 and 53.3% for the bark, sapwood and heartwood, respectively.

Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis: Pathophysiology and Imaging Findings.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) represents approximately 15% of all TB infections. It is difficult to diagnose on the basis of imaging characteristics and clinical symptoms, and biopsy is required in many cases. Radiologists must be aware of the imaging findings of extrapulmonary TB to identify the condition in high-risk patients, even in the absence of active pulmonary infection. In extrapulmonary TB, the lymphatic system is most frequently affected. The presence of necrotic lymph nodes and other organ-specific imaging features increases the diagnostic probability of extrapulmonary TB. Disseminated infection and central nervous system involvement are the most frequent manifestations in immunosuppressed patients. Renal disease can occur in immunocompetent patients with very long latency periods between the primary pulmonary infection and genitourinary involvement. In several cases, gastrointestinal, solid-organ, and peritoneal TB show nonspecific imaging findings. Tuberculous spondylitis is the most frequent musculoskeletal manifestation. It is usually diagnosed late and affects multiple vertebral segments with extensive paraspinal abscess. Articular disease is the second most frequent musculoskeletal manifestation, and synovitis is its predominant imaging finding.©RSNA, 2019.

Course reaction scale in e-learning: adaptation and factor structure / Escala de reação ao curso em educação a distância: adaptação e estrutura fatorial / Escala de reacción al curso en enseñanza virtual: adaptación y estructura factorial

This paper aims to adapt and analyze the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Reaction to Instructional Proceedings Scale in Distance Education (ERPI-EAD) and its relation with the effectiveness of training at work. In total, 3,600 employees from a Brazilian public bank participated in this study by answering the ERPI-EAD after taking part in an online course. We measured training transfer with a self-evaluation scale. Internal consistency, confirmatory factor analysis, and multiple regressions were conducted. A one-factor structure and a high level of fit for the model were found. The participants' satisfaction with the course was related to the effectiveness of training. We suggest using the ERPI-EAD as a reliable and valid measure that predicts the effectiveness of training, can contribute to collect relevant information to improve instructional aspects and ensure better performance results in the workplace.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo adaptar e analisar a estrutura fatorial e as propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Reação aos Procedimentos Instrucionais em Educação a Distância (ERPI-EAD) e sua relação com a efetividade do treinamento no trabalho. Participaram deste estudo 3.600 funcionários de um banco estatal brasileiro respondendo à ERPI-EAD depois de realizar um curso on-line. Mediu-se o impacto do treinamento no trabalho em amplitude com uma escala de autoavaliação. Foram realizadas análises de consistência interna, fatorial confirmatória e regressões múltiplas. Uma estrutura unifatorial e um alto nível de ajuste para o modelo foram encontrados. A satisfação dos participantes com o curso esteve relacionada à efetividade do treinamento. Sugere-se o uso da ERPI-EAD como uma medida confiável e válida, que prediz a efetividade de treinamento, contribui para a coleta de informações relevantes à melhora dos aspectos instrucionais e assegura melhores resultados de desempenho no trabalho.

El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y examinar la estructura factorial y las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Reacción al Curso en Enseñanza Virtual (ERC-EV) y su relación con la eficacia de la formación en el trabajo. Un total de 3.600 empleados de un Banco estatal brasileño participó en el estudio respondiendo a la ERC-EV después de haber participado en una teleformación. Se midió la transferencia de la formación con una escala de autoevaluación. Análisis de consistencia interna, factoriales confirmatorios y regresiones múltiples fueron realizados. Una estructura de un único factor y un alto nivel de ajuste para el modelo fueron encontrados. La satisfacción de los participantes con el curso estuvo relacionada con la eficacia de la formación. Se sugiere el uso de la ERC-EV como una medida fiable y válida, que predice la eficacia de la formación, puede ayudar a recoger información relevante para la mejora de los aspectos de la instrucción y asegurar mejores resultados de rendimiento en el trabajo.

Polycondensation Resins by Flavonoid Tannins Reaction with Amines.

Reaction of a condensed flavonoid tannin, namely mimosa tannin extract with a hexamethylene diamine, has been investigated. For that purpose, catechin was also used as a flavonoid model compound and treated in similar conditions. Solid-state cross-polarisation/magic-angle spinning (CP-MAS) carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectroscopy studies revealed that polycondensation compounds leading to resins were obtained by the reaction of the amines with the phenolic hydroxy groups of the tannin. Simultaneously, a second reaction leading to the formation of ionic bonds between the two groups occurred. These new reactions have been shown to clearly lead to the reaction of several phenolic hydroxyl groups, and flavonoid unit oligomerisation, to form hardened resins.

Relationship between the plasma concentration of C-reactive protein and severity of peripheral arterial disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the increase in plasma levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a non-specific reactant in the acute-phase of systemic inflammation, is associated with clinical severity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a cross-sectional study at a referral hospital center of institutional practice in Madrid, Spain. A stratified random sampling was done over a population of 3370 patients with symptomatic PAD from the outpatient vascular laboratory database in 2007 in the order of their clinical severity: the first group of patients with mild chronological clinical severity who did not require surgical revascularization, the second group consisted of patients with moderate clinical severity who had only undergone only one surgical revascularization procedure and the third group consisted of patients who were severely affected and had undergone two or more surgical revascularization procedures of the lower extremities in different areas or needed late re-interventions. The Neyman affixation was used to calculate the sample size with a fixed relative error of 0.1. A homogeneity analysis between groups and a unifactorial analysis of comparison of medians for CRP was done. The groups were homogeneous for age, smoking status, Arterial Hypertension HTA, diabetes mellitus, dyslipemia, homocysteinemia and specific markers of inflammation. In the unifactorial analysis of multiple comparisons of medians according to Scheffé, it was observed that the median values of CRP plasma levels were increased in association with higher clinical severity of PAD (3.81 mg/L [2.14-5.48] vs. 8.33 [4.38-9.19] vs. 12.83 [9.5-14.16]; p < 0.05) as a unique factor of tested ones. CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of CRP are associated with not only the presence of atherosclerosis but also with its chronological clinical severity.

[Repair of secondary aortoenteric fistulas. A systematic review]. / Reparación de las fístulas aortoentéricas secundarias. Revisión sistemática.

We performed a systematic review of the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of secondary aortoenteric fistulas (AEF). A MEDLINE search was performed of articles published in English or Spanish between January 1991 and August 2006. Diagnostic methods, treatment modalities and the results of surgical treatment were analyzed. The most frequent first aortic surgery associated with AEF was repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (54.31%). The most common form of presentation was gastrointestinal bleeding. Repair through in situ prosthetic replacement had the lowest early mortality rates (8-13.3%) compared with graft excision and extraanatomic revascularization (18.2-44%). AEF is a serious entity and diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion based on clinical findings and indirect data from imaging techniques (computed tomography). The most appropriate therapeutic option continues to be controversial.