Body yield and quality of fresh and post-freezing filet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) genetic groups.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the body yield and quality of fresh and post-freezing filet of male and female fish of inbred and non-inbred AquaAmérica genetic group and the hybrid between the AquaAmérica and Tilamax varieties. Forty fish (20 males and 20 females) of each genetic group were housed in four 48-m3 hapa net cages, getting 120 fish per cage. The fish were housed at 51 days of age and farmed for 269 days. Pre-slaughter weight was higher (P<0.05) in the AquaAmérica × Tilamax males (0.805±0.204 kg) than in the inbred AquaAmérica male (0.643±0.115 kg). Filet yield percentage was higher (P<0.05) in the AquaAmérica × Tilamax males (32.14±4.72%) than in the inbred AquaAmérica (28.15±2.67%) and non-inbred AquaAmérica (29.06±2.80%) males. Head and viscera yield percentages, pH, color values (L*, a* and b*), shear force, drip loss and cooking loss did not differ significantly between the genetic groups and sexes. Alterations in meat quality were observed after freezing. In conclusion, inbreeding in the AquaAmérica variety resulted in reduced slaughter weight for males; AquaAmérica × Tilamax males have a higher filet yield; and filet quality is not influenced by crossing, inbreeding, or sex, but is changed after freezing.

Organizational characteristics, outcomes, and resource use in 78 Brazilian intensive care units: the ORCHESTRA study.

PURPOSE: Detailed information on organization and process of care in intensive care units (ICU) in emerging countries is scarce. Here, we investigated the impact of organizational factors on the outcomes and resource use in a large sample of Brazilian ICUs. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 59,693 patients (medical admissions, 67 %) admitted to 78 ICUs during 2013. We retrieved patients' data from an ICU quality registry and surveyed ICUs regarding structure, organization, staffing patterns, and process of care. We used multilevel logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with hospital mortality. Efficient resource use was assessed by estimating standardized resource use and mortality rates adjusted for the SAPS 3 score. RESULTS: ICUs were mostly medical-surgical (79 %) and located at private hospitals (86 %). Median nurse to bed ratio was 0.20 (IQR, 0.15-0.28) and board-certified intensivists were present 24/7 in 16 (21 %) of ICUs. Multidisciplinary rounds occurred in 67 (86 %) and daily checklists were used in 36 (46 %) ICUs. Most frequent protocols focused on sepsis management and prevention of healthcare-associated infections. Hospital mortality was 14.4 %. In multivariable analysis, the number of protocols was the only organizational characteristic associated with mortality [odds ratio = 0.944 (95 % CI 0.904-0.987)]. The effects of protocols were consistent across subgroups including surgical and medical patients as well as the SAPS 3 tertiles. We also observed a significant trend toward efficient resource use as the number of protocols increased. CONCLUSIONS: In emerging countries such as Brazil, organizational factors, including the implementation of protocols, are potential targets to improve patient outcomes and resource use in ICUs.

Perda do ritmo circadiano do TSH como variável prognóstica em pacientes críticos / Loss of circadian rhythm of TSH as outcome sacdor in critically ill patients

Foram estudados 75 pacientes consecutivamente internados na UTI, dos quais 45 eram do sexo feminino e 30 do sexo masculino. A idade variou de 23 a 69 anos. Todos eram portadores de patologias graves que exigiam algum tipo de cuidado intensivo. No primeiro dia da internaçäo foram colhidas amostras de sangue para dosagem de TSH às 8h da manha (TSH8) e à 1 hora da madrugada (TSH1). Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: o Grupo A com 54 pacientes que sobreviveram à internaçäo, e o Grupo B com 21 pacientes que vieram a falecer durante a internaçäo na UTI. Os pacientes do Grupo A apresentaram um TSH(8) médio de 1,19 + 0,14 mU/L e um TSH(1) de 1,41 + 0,14 mU/L. Já o Grupo B apresentou um TSH(8) médio de 1.08 + 0,24 mU/L e um TSH(1) de 1,31 + 0,28 mU/L. Os pacientes do Grupo A (sobreviventes) apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes nos valores de TSH(8) em relaçäo aos valores de TSH(1). Contrariamente, no Grupo B (Nao sobreviventes) os valores de TSH(8) e TSH(1) näo diferiram estatisticamente. Foi realizada também uma análise de regressäo logística combinada dos dados de TSH(8) e de TSH(1) em relaçäo ao número de sobreviventes (P) e näo-sobreviventes (1-P). Foi utilizado o modelo: Log (P/1-P)=a + Beta1 *TSH(8)) + (Beta2 *TSH(1)). A análise resultou com uma estimativa de mortalidade de somente 56 por cento o que expressa um baixo poder de discriminaçäo entre sobreviventes e näo-sobreviventes. Conclui-se que a despeito da demonstraçäo de uma depressäo do surto noturno de TSH em pacientes críticos, esta variável, isoladamente, carece de poder discriminatório. Nesta série o sistema APACHE-II se mostrou superior. A inclusäo de T3,T4 e cortisol além do TSH na análise de regressäo logística poderia atingir maior precisäo, para ser usada, possivelmente, como um índice Prognóstico Endócrino.