European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging survey on the evaluation of mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: To evaluate the diagnosis and imaging of patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) and the management in routine clinical practice across Europe, the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging Scientific Initiatives Committee performed a survey across European centres. In particular, the routine use of echocardiography, advanced imaging modalities, heart valve clinics, and heart valve teams was explored. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 61 responders, mainly from tertiary centres or university hospitals, from 26 different countries responded to the survey, which consisted of 22 questions. For most questions related to echocardiography and advanced imaging, the answers were relatively homogeneous and demonstrated good adherence to current recommendations. In particular, the centres used a multi-parametric echocardiographic approach and selected the effective regurgitant orifice and vena contracta width as their preferred assessments. 2D measurements are still the most widely used parameters to assess left ventricular structure; however, the majority use 3D trans-oesophageal echocardiography (TOE) to evaluate valve morphology in severe MR. The majority of centres reported the onsite availability and clinical use of ergometric stress echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CCT), and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Heart valve clinics and heart valve teams were also widely prevalent. CONCLUSION: Consistent with current guidelines, echocardiography (transthoracic echocardiography and TOE) remains the first-line and central imaging modality for the assessment of MR although the complementary use of 3D TOE, CCT, and CMR appears to be growing. Heart valve clinics and heart valve teams are now widely prevalent.

Microalgae harvesting for wastewater treatment and resources recovery: A review.

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment has been conceived to obtain reclaimed water and produce microalgal biomass for bio-based products and biofuels generation. However, microalgal biomass harvesting is challenging and expensive, hence one of the main bottlenecks for full-scale implementation. Finding an integrated approach that covers concepts of engineering, green chemistry and the application of microbial anabolism driven towards the harvesting processes, is mandatory for the widespread establishment of full-scale microalgae wastewater treatment plants. By using nature-based substances and applying concepts of chemical functionalization in already established harvesting methods, the costs of harvesting processes could be reduced while preventing microalgae biomass contamination. Moreover, microalgae produced during wastewater treatment have unique culture characteristics, such as the consortia, which are primarily composed of microalgae and bacteria, that should be accounted for prior to downstream processing. The aim of this review is to examine recent advances in microalgal biomass harvesting and recovery in wastewater treatment systems, considering the impact of consortia variability. The costs of available harvesting technologies, such as coagulation/flocculation, coupled to sedimentation and differential air flotation, are provided. Additionally, promising technologies are discussed, including autoflocculation, bioflocculation, new filtration materials, nanotechnology, microfluidic and magnetic methods.

Structural alteration of cocoa bean shell fibers through biological treatment using Penicillium roqueforti.

Lignocellulosic residues, such as cocoa bean shell (FI), are generated in large quantities during agro-industrial activities. Proper management of residual biomass through solid state fermentation (SSF) can be effective in obtaining value-added products. The hypothesis of the present work is that the bioprocess promoted by P. roqueforti can lead to structural changes in the fibers of the fermented cocoa bean shell (FF) that confer characteristics of industrial interest. To unveil such changes, the techniques of FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA/TG were used. After SSF, an increase of 36.6% in the crystallinity index was observed, reflecting the reduction of amorphous components such as lignin in the FI residue. Furthermore, an increase in porosity was observed through the reduction of the 2θ angle, which gives the FF a potential candidate for applications of porous products. The FTIR results confirm the reduction in hemicellulose content after SSF. The thermal and thermogravimetric tests showed an increase in the hydrophilicity and thermal stability of FF (15% decomposition) in relation to the by-product FI (40% decomposition). These data provided important information regarding changes in the crystallinity of the residue, existing functional groups and changes in degradation temperatures.

This work presents a new approach for solid state fermentation based on the study of structural changes caused by Penicillium roquefort, which is important to understand the changes in the lignocellulosic matrix after the fungus growth. The results provided important information regarding changes in the crystallinity of the residue, existing functional groups and changes in degradation temperatures. Consequently, they can help in proposals for the total use of the residual solid after fermentation, as well as contribute to reducing the lack of this information in the literature.

A perspectiva de crianças e adolescentes sobre brincar durante a hospitalização / The perspective of children and adolescents about playing during hospitalization / La perspectiva de los niños y adolescentes sobre jugar durante la hospitalización

Introdução: A hospitalização provoca impactos à vida da criança e do adolescente, por apresentar um caráter desafiador em um ambiente desconhecido. Nesse contexto, o brincar pode ser um recurso aliado dos pacientes durante a internação. Objetivo: Compreender a perspectiva da criança e do adolescente sobre o brincar no período de hospitalização. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo realizado em uma enfermaria pediátrica. Os instrumentos de coleta foram: questionário sociodemográfico, "Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil ­ CCEB da Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Pesquisa" e o roteiro de entrevista. Para a análise dos dados, optou-se pela abordagem descritiva qualitativa baseada em Sandelowski. Resultados: O estudo contou com a participação de 10 crianças e adolescentes. A análise dos dados gerou duas categorias: "brincando no hospital" e "utilização do brincar como estratégia de enfrentamento do processo de hospitalização". Os resultados destacaram a brinquedoteca, o leito e o quarto como os locais para a realização do brincar durante a hospitalização, além de uma diversidade de recursos utilizados durante as brincadeiras. Destaca-se os benefícios do brincar durante a internação pediátrica como estratégia de enfrentamento da hospitalização. Conclusão: O brincar contribui para o enfrentamento da hospitalização pediátrica, possibilitando a distração, o alívio de tensões, o preenchimento do tempo ocioso e a fuga da realidade. Além disso, foi possível verificar que os adolescentes apresentaram preferência pelos quartos para a realização do brincar, apesar da disponibilidade da brinquedoteca.

Introduction: Hospitalization causes impacts the lives of children and adolescents, as it presents a challenging character, in an unknown environment. In this context, playing can be an allied resource for patients during hospitalization. Objective: To understand the perspectives of children and adolescents about playing during hospitalization. Methods: This is a descriptive study carried out in a pediatric unit. The data collection instruments were: a sociodemographic questionnaire, "Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria ­ CCEB of the Brazilian Association of Research Companies" and the interview. For data analysis, a qualitative descriptive approach based on Sandelowski was chosen. Results: Ten children and adolescents participated in the study. Data analysis generated two categories: "playing in the hospital" and "use of play as a coping strategy in. the hospitalization process". The results highlighted the play library, the bed, and the bedroom as the places to play during hospitalization, in addition to a diversity of resources used during the games. The benefits of playing during pediatric hospitalization are highlighted as a strategy for coping with hospitalization. Conclusion: Playing contributes to coping with pediatric hospitalization, enabling distraction, relieving tension, filling time and escaping reality. In addition, it was possible to verify that the adolescents showed a preference for rooms for playing, despite Palavras-chave: Ensino Online. Terapia Ocupacional. Aprendizagem. COVID-19. the availability of the play library.

Introducción: La hospitalización provoca impactos en la vida de los niños y adolescentes, ya que presenta un carácter desafiante, en un entorno desconocido. En este contexto, el juego puede ser un recurso aliado para los pacientes durante la hospitalización. Objetivo: Comprender la perspectiva de niños y adolescentes sobre el juego durante la hospitalización. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo realizado en un servicio de pediatría. Los instrumentos de recolección fueron: cuestionario sociodemográfico, "Criterios de Clasificación Económica Brasileña ­ CCEB de la Asociación Brasileña de Empresas de Investigación" y el guión de entrevista. Para el análisis de los datos se optó por un enfoque descriptivo cualitativo basado en Sandelowski. Resultados: El estudio contó con la participación de 10 niños y adolescentes. El análisis de los datos generó dos categorías: "jugar en el hospital" y "uso del juego como estrategia de afrontamiento del proceso de hospitalización". Los resultados destacaron la ludoteca, la cama y el dormitorio como los lugares de juego durante la hospitalización, además de una diversidad de recursos utilizados durante los juegos. Se destacan los beneficios del juego durante la hospitalización pediátrica como estrategia de enfrentamiento de la hospitalización. Conclusión: El juego contribuye para el enfrentamiento de la internación pediátrica, posibilitando la distracción, aliviando la tensión, llenando los tiempos muertos y escapando de la realidad. Además, fue posible verificar que los adolescentes prefirieron las salas para jugar, a pesar de la disponibilidad de la ludoteca.

Up-recycling oil produced water as the media-base for the production of xanthan gum.

Produced water (PW) and crude glycerin (CG) are compounds overproduced by the oil and biodiesel industry and significant scientific efforts are being applied for properly recycling them. The aim of this research is to combine such industrial byproducts for sustaining the production of xanthan by Xanthomonas campestris. Xanthan yields and viscosity on distinct PW ratios (0, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100) and on 100% dialyzed PW (DPW) in shaker batch testing identified DPW treatment as the best approach for further bioreactor experiments. Such experiments showed a xanthan yield of 17.3 g/L within 54 h and a viscosity of 512 mPa s. Physical-chemical characterization (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy) showed similarities between the produced gum and the experimental control. This research shows a clear alternative for upcycling high salinity PW and CG for the generation of a valued bioproduct for the oil industry.

Wild rice (O. latifolia) from natural ecosystems in the Pantanal region of Brazil: Host to Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex and highly contaminated by zearalenone.

We assessed the mycobiota diversity and mycotoxin levels present in wild rice (Oryza latifolia) from the Pantanal region of Brazil; fundamental aspects of which are severely understudied as an edible plant from a natural ecosystem. We found multiple fungal species contaminating the rice samples; the most frequent genera being Fusarium, Nigrospora and Cladosporium (35.9%, 26.1% and 15%, respectively). Within the Fusarium genus, the wild rice samples were mostly contaminated by the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC) (80%) along with Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (20%). Phylogenetic analysis supported multiple FIESC species and gave support to the presence of two putative new groups within the complex (LN1 and LN2). Deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) chemical analysis showed that most of the isolates were DON/ZEN producers and some were defined as high ZEN producers, displaying abundant ZEN levels over DON (over 19 times more). Suggesting that ZEN likely has a key adaptive role for FIESC in wild rice (O. latifolia). Mycotoxin determination in the rice samples revealed high frequency of ZEN, and 85% of rice samples had levels >100 µg/kg; the recommended limit set by regulatory agencies. DON was only detected in 5.2% of the samples. Our data shows that FIESC species are the main source of ZEN contamination in wild rice and the excessive levels of ZEN found in the rice samples raises considerable safety concerns regarding wild rice consumption by humans and animals.

Assessment of Toxigenic Fusarium Species and Their Mycotoxins in Brewing Barley Grains.

Fusarium species threaten yield and quality of cereals worldwide due to their ability to produce mycotoxins and cause plant diseases. Trichothecenes and zearalenone are the most economically significant mycotoxins and are of particular concern in barley, maize and wheat. For this reason, the aim of this study was to characterize the Fusarium isolates from brewing barley and to assess deoxynivalenol and zearalenone contamination in grains. Characterization of the Fusarium strains was carried out by the phylogeny based on two loci (EF-1α and RPB2). Mycotoxin detection and quantification were performed by LC-MS. The results show that Fusarium was the predominant genus. Phylogenetic study demonstrated that the majority of the strains clustered within the Fusarium sambucinum species complex followed by the Fusarium tricinctum species complex. The results revealed high incidence of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) contamination (90.6% and 87.5%, respectively). It was observed that 86% of the samples contaminated with ZEA were above the limits set by the EU and Brazilian regulations. These results may highlight the importance of controlling Fusarium toxins in barley, mainly because of its use in the brewing industry and the resistance of various mycotoxins to food processing treatments.

Postoperative pain and analgesia in patients submitted to unruptured brain aneurysm clamping / Dor pós-operatória e analgesia em pacientes submetidos à pinçamento de aneurisma cerebral não roto

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adequate postoperative pain evaluation and management are priorities for quality assistance, especially after neurological surgeries. This study aimed at evaluating postoperative pain of neurosurgical patients submitted to unruptured brain aneurysm clamping. METHODS: Prospective and descriptive study carried out in a charity hospital of the city of Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Sample was made up of 28 patients submitted to elective craniotomy for unruptured brain aneurysm clamping. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn-Bonferroni tests were used for inferential analysis. Significance level was 5% throughout the study. RESULTS: Most patients (78.6%) were females, 64.0% had postoperative pain. There has been significant difference in the number of days with postoperative pain among patients with associated comorbidities (p=0.04) and previous surgery (p=0.01). Most patients had moderate and throbbing headache. There were no adequate pain records and most frequent analgesics were simple analgesics. Opioids prescription was incipient. CONCLUSION: Systematic pain evaluation should be part of multiprofessional assistance, in compliance with international and national pain institutions recommendations.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Avaliação e manuseio adequados da dor pós-operatória são prioridades para uma assistência de qualidade, sobretudo em cirurgias neurológicas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a dor pós-operatória de pacientes neurocirúrgicos submetidos a pinçamento de aneurisma não roto. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo e descritivo realizado em um hospital beneficente do município de Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil. A casuística foi constituída por 28 pacientes submetidos a craniotomia eletiva para tratamento de aneurisma cerebral não roto por meio de pinçamento. Na análise inferencial foram utilizados os testes de Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis e Dunn-Bonferroni. Foi adotado nível de significância de 5% em todo o estudo. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes (78,6%) era do sexo feminino, 64,0% apresentaram dor no pós-operatório. Houve diferença significativa quanto ao número de dias com dor pós-operatória entre os pacientes que tinham comorbidades associadas (p=0,04) e cirurgia anterior (p=0,01). A maior parte dos pacientes apresentou cefaleia de intensidade moderada e pulsátil. Não houve registro adequado da dor nos prontuários, os analgésicos mais utilizados foram analgésicos simples e a prescrição de opioides foi incipiente. CONCLUSÃO: A avaliação do fenômeno doloroso de forma sistemática deve fazer parte da assistência multiprofissional, conforme as recomendações de instituições nacionais e internacionais da dor.