Miniature transport respirator performance evaluation for ventilatory support

Abstract. In the face of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), in hospital and emergency units, there is low availability of mechanical respirator for patients in need of this support, greatly improving the survival rate. In these situations, there is a need for simpler equipment, easy access, low cost, and fast manufacturing. In this study, a 3D prototype transport respirator was developed using as a model the Takaoka 600 Mini Respirator, national technology from the 1950s. The influence of adjustable parameters of the respirator was evaluated to understand it is functioning: maximum and minimum lung pressure; respirator intake pressure; respiratory rate; inspiratory and expiratory time according to the sensitivity of the mini respirator; and pressure and flow of O2 line intake. The increase in sensitivity led to an increase in maximum and minimum pulmonary pressure, decreased inspiratory and expiratory time, with margins of 1/1, 1/2, 1/3 inspiratory/expiratory time ratio (I/E ratio). The intake flow of O2 varied proportionally with the pressure of air intake into the respirator, with its increase leading to an increase in respiratory rate, without major influences on lung pressure and the I/E ratio. The O2 line intake pressure without major influences on lung pressure, showing and I/E ratio >1 in values below 3.5 kPa x 100. In conclusion, it was possible to obtain a pulmonary ventilator-dependent only on positive O2 flow, compact and effective for patient transport, and in cases of emergencies with control of maximum pressure and respiratory rate offered to the patient. Among the parameters evaluated for this respirator, an line pressure of O2 from 3.5 kPa x 100, sensitivity between 3 and 5, a flow of 5 to 15 L/min is recommended.

Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Atrazine and Ametrine Induce Micronuclei Formation and Nuclear Abnormalities in Erythrocytes of Fish.

A rapid and sensitive method using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry triple quadrupole direct aqueous injection for analysis of atrazine and ametrine herbicides in surface waters was developed. According to the validation method, water samples from six different locations in the Piracicaba River were collected monthly from February 2011 to January 2012 and injected into a liquid chromatographer/dual mass spectrometer without the need for sample extraction. The method was validated and shown to be precise and accurate; limits of detection and quantification were 0.07 and 0.10 µg L(-1) for atrazine and 0.09 and 0.14 µg L(-1) for ametrine. During the sampling period, concentrations of atrazine ranged from 0.11 to 1.92 µg L(-1) and ametrine from 0.25 to 1.44 µg L(-1). After analysis of the herbicides, Danio rerio were exposed a range of concentrations found in the river water to check the induction of micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities (NAs) in erythrocytes. Concentrations of atrazine and ametrine >1.0 and 1.5 µg L(-1), respectively, induced MN formation in D. rerio. Ametrine was shown to be more genotoxic to D. rerio because a greater incidence of NAs was observed compared with atrazine. Therefore, environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine and ametrine found in the Piracicaba River are dangerous to the aquatic biota.

Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and dynamic multiple reaction monitoring method for determining multiple pesticide residues in tomato.

A quick and sensitive liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method, using dynamic multiple reaction monitoring and a 1.8-µm particle size analytical column, was developed to determine 57 pesticides in tomato in a 13-min run. QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method for samples preparations and validations was carried out in compliance with EU SANCO guidelines. The method was applied to 58 tomato samples. More than 84% of the compounds investigated showed limits of detection equal to or lower than 5 mg kg(-1). A mild (<20%), medium (20-50%), and strong (>50%) matrix effect was observed for 72%, 25%, and 3% of the pesticides studied, respectively. Eighty-one percent of the pesticides showed recoveries ranging between 70% and 120%. Twelve pesticides were detected in 35 samples, all below the maximum residue levels permitted in the Brazilian legislation; 15 samples exceeded the maximum residue levels established by the EU legislation for methamidophos; and 10 exceeded limits for acephate and four for bromuconazole.

The clinical profile of childhood optic neuritis.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical features and outcome of a series of children with optic neuritis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients up to 16 years old with optic neuritis. Group 1 comprised children seen up to two weeks after the onset of visual loss; Group 2 comprised patients already harboring optic atrophy. RESULTS: There were 15 boys and 12 girls. The mean age was 10.9 years. Bilateral optic neuritis occurred in 10. Optic disc pallor was found in 35%, edema in 46%, and 19% had normal fundus. During follow-up visual acuity improved in all but one eye in Group 1, and in six of seven eyes in children in Group 2. Just one child converted to multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the clinical features of childhood optic neuritis differ from those observed in adults. In children it has a better visual outcome and a lower conversion rate to multiple sclerosis than in adults.

Comportamento antropometrico do desnutrido grave submetido a tratamento intra-hospitalar com dois tipos de dietas. Estudo de 200 casos. / Anthropometric behavior of the severe malnourished patient submitted to intrahospital treatment with 2 types of diet. Study of 200 cases

Estudo antropometrico de 200 criancas desnutridas graves hospitalizadas para tratamento foi realizado. Na admissao, os pacientes foram classificados segundo os criterios de Gomez. O estudo dos deficits de pesolidade, alturalidade e peso/altura, alem da analise da evolucao do estado nutricional pela adequacao peso/altura e estudo do ganho de peso foram valorizados.Evidenciou-se que aos 45 dias de internamento, a classificacao do estado nutricional atraves dos criterios de Gomez e de Macias diferiu significativamente, permanecendo os pacientes na mesma condicao nutricional inicial quando aferidos por Gomez e verificando-se uma melhoria do estado nutricional com os criterios de Macias, sendo estes considerados mais sensiveis para a avaliacao do estado nutricional atual. Todavia, foi reconhecido que os criterios de Macias sao muito exigentes para serem utilizados para alta de pacientes internados, uma vez que para serem atingidos impoem uma permanencia hospitalar mais prolongada. A analise do ganho de peso demonstrou que a mudanca no esquema dietetico nao alterou os padroes de recuperacao em dois grupos estudados

Desnutricao e hospital. II - Tempo de permanencia e criterios de alta para desnutridos. / Malnutrition and hospital.II - Length of stay and discharge criteria for malnourished children

Os AA. analisam o comportamento de 200 criancas portadoras de DPC de II e III graus, com patologia associada, submetidas a tratamento intra-hospitalar mediante a utilizacao de criterios de alta diferentes. Evidenciam que a permanencia hospitalar esta na razao direta dos criterios de alta empregados e apos discutirem acerca dos parametros antropometricos bioquimicos, hematologicos, etc., recomendam como criterios mais objetivos e de valor pratico os seguintes: cura da patologia associada a DPC, adaptacao a dieta normal para a idade e ganho de peso progressivo, pelo menos durante uma semana. Os criterios acima permitiram uma permanencia media de 47 dias