[Clinical outcomes of percutaneous intervention on the unprotected left main coronary artery]. / Desenlaces clínicos de la intervención percutánea sobre tronco coronario izquierdo no protegido.

Background: The debate on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) has been constant over time. Objective: To investigate the clinical and procedural characteristics and cardiovascular outcomes of PCI of unprotected LMCA. Material and methods: Observational study which included patients with unprotected LMCA disease undergoing PCI; patients with cardiogenic shock prior to the procedure were excluded. We describe the clinical and angiographic characteristics, as well as the major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) according to the year of the procedure. Results: We included 73 patients, with a SYNTAX I score of 31.2 ± 9.1, mostly with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (35%). There was a higher frequency of triple vessel coronary disease (63%) and distal LMCA lesions (35%). The provisional stent technique was the most used for distal lesions (58%) and the 2-stent technique for bifurcation lesions (78%), supported by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in 38%. During follow-up, 19 presented MACCE (26%), out of which cardiac death occurred in 13%, non-cardiovascular death in 5%, non-fatal acute myocardial infarction in 1%, cerebrovascular event in 2%, and revascularization of the treated vessel in 4%. Conclusions: It was observed a similar frequency to the one appearing in other studies of cardiovascular events, mainly in patients with intermediate risk, which supports the increasing use of percutaneous intervention in this population.

Introducción: el debate sobre la intervención coronaria percutánea (ICP) del tronco coronario izquierdo (TCI) no protegido ha sido constante a lo largo del tiempo. Objetivo: investigar las características clínicas, de procedimiento y los desenlaces cardiovasculares de la ICP del TCI no protegido. Material y métodos: estudio observacional que incluyó pacientes con enfermedad del TCI no protegido sometidos a ICP; se excluyeron pacientes con choque cardiogénico previo al procedimiento. Describimos las características clínicas y angiográficas, así como los eventos adversos cardiovasculares y cerebrales mayores (MACCE) según el año del procedimiento. Resultados: incluimos 73 pacientes, con puntuación de SYNTAX I de 31.2 ± 9.1, mayormente con síndrome coronario agudo con elevación del ST (35%). Hubo mayor frecuencia de enfermedad coronaria trivascular (63%) y lesión distal del TCI (35%). La técnica de stent provisional fue la más usada para lesiones distales (58%) y la técnica de 2 stents para las lesiones en bifurcación (78%), con apoyo del ultrasonido intravascular (IVUS) en el 38%. En el seguimiento se presentaron 19 MACCE (26%), de los cuales la muerte de causa cardiaca se presentó en el 13%, muerte no cardiovascular en 5%, infarto agudo al miocardio no fatal en 1%, evento vascular cerebral en 2% y nueva revascularización del vaso tratado en 4%. Conclusiones: se observó una frecuencia similar a la de otros estudios de eventos cardiovasculares, especialmente en pacientes con riesgo intermedio, lo cual apoya el uso creciente de la intervención percutánea en esta población.

Exploration of Microencapsulation of Arginine in Carnauba Wax (Copernicia prunifera) and Its Dietary Effect on the Quality of Beef.

The objective of this exploratory study was to assess if microencapsulated arginine influences the physicochemical quality of beef. The study included three genetic groups: Angus, Hereford, and Angus × Hereford crossbreed. Two encapsulation systems were used with carnauba wax, at ratios of 3:1 and 2:1, carnauba wax:core (arginine), respectively. A control treatment was also included with no arginine addition. Encapsulated arginine with a 3:1 ratio increased redness by 19.66 at 28 d aged beef compared to the control and 2:1 ratio with values of 18.55 and 16.77, respectively (p = 0.01). Encapsulated arginine at a 3:1 ratio showed the lowest meat shear force values with 24.32 N at 28 d of ageing (p < 0.001). The Angus breed also had a low value of 24.02 N (p < 0.001). Finally, the highest values of intramuscular fat were observed with the inclusion of arginine in a 3:1 ratio. The fat value reached 2.12% with a 3:1 ratio (p = 0.002), while in the Angus breed it was 1.59%. The addition of carnauba wax-encapsulated arginine can improve meat quality. It enhances red color, tenderness, and marbling in bovine meat.

Vulvar Reconstruction with Keystone Flaps after Radical Vulvectomy.

Vulvar cancer is a rare oncologic pathology, accounting for only 3%-5% of all gynecologic neoplasms, with squamous cell carcinoma responsible for more than 90% of these cases; the remaining 10% includes Paget disease, lichen sclerosus, and vulvar melanoma. Radical vulvectomy has become the gold standard treatment due to the high recurrence rate and effective local control in patients with squamous cell carcinoma stages IB to IVA. To address these needs, various reconstructive options have been reported in the literature, each potentially offering different results due to their diverse nature. We present a series of patients who underwent vulvar reconstruction with the keystone flap, describing the surgical technique, complication rate, advantages over other techniques, and long-term follow-up.

Satisfaction, Qol and adherence of patients allergic to dust mites and/or pollens undergoing sublingual immunotherapy.

Aim: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) changes history of allergic respiratory disease (ARD). However, adherence is a barrier for optimal outcomes.Patients & methods: In the QUALI study, 859 patients with house-dust mite (HDM) and/or pollen induced ARD uncontrolled with symptomatic treatment and undergoing SLIT for at least 6 months or including one pre-coseason (pollen) were collected.Results & conclusion: SLIT significantly improved allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) and asthma symptom control, leading to reduced medication, meaningful health-related quality of life gain, improved nasal, ocular and bronchial symptoms and everyday life activities. Patients were highly satisfied and most of them adhered to SLIT, being forgetfulness the main non-adherence motive. SLIT is a quick effective treatment against persistent moderate-to-severe symptoms in ARC and asthma but it should been improve forgetfulness, as non-adherence reason.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has really changed how we deal with allergic respiratory disease. But there's a catch: sticking to the treatment can be tough.In the QUALI study, we looked at 859 patients dealing with dust mite and/or pollen allergies who were not getting relief from the usual treatments. We put them on SLIT for at least 6 months or during pollen season.This treatment made a big difference. Symptoms got better, people needed less medication and they felt better in their day-to-day lives. Most patients were happy with the treatment and stuck to it well, but some forgot sometimes.In short, SLIT works fast and works well for moderate to severe allergies and asthma. But we need to help people remember to stick with it.

Effect of packaging thickness and muscle type on ultrasound-assisted beef quality.

High-intensity ultrasound (HIU) can modify muscle structure, leading to improvements in tenderness. However, factors such as packing type and muscle complexity may attenuate the acoustic cavitation. In this research, the effect of packing thickness (40.6-70 µm) on the quality of bovine Gluteus medius and Biceps femoris treated with HIU (37 kHz, 90 W/cm2, 40 min) was evaluated. The hardness of G. medius decreased significantly as the thickness of the packing bag decreased. The wide interfibrillar and intermyofibrillar spaces corroborated the tenderizing effect. These effects are related to damage of cell structure and changes in the collagen content (3.37 ± 0.1 µg/mL). In addition, the HIU decrease the variability in the water holding capacity of the muscle produced by the use of low thickness bags during storage. The trained sensory panel described the sonicated samples in 50.8 µm bags as less hard and juicier. Contrarily, in B. femoris no significant effects were reported in the variables evaluated. B. femoris is a white muscle, with a high amount of collagen (3.59 ± 0.1 µg/mL) and little intramuscular fat. Consequently, the effect of the HIU on muscle quality is associated with the composition of the muscle fibers and the thickness of the packing bag. HIU application is recommended to improve the quality of leg muscles whenever low-thickness bags (50.8 µm or less) are used.

Chronic follicular pancreatitis: a space occupying lesion with spontaneous resolution.

Follicular pancreatitis (FP) is an extremely odd entity characterized by the presence of a pseudotumor that histologically presents lymphoid aggregates and germinal centers. The authors present the case of a 67-year-old woman with epigastric pain and jaundice. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was performed, revealing a 14x15 mm hypoechoic area with irregular edges in the head of the pancreas. The in situ cytological study showed polymorphic lymphoid cellularity, without atypia suggesting neoplasia. The cell block and the immunohistochemical study showed a polyclonal population with a pattern suggestive of FP. The patient presented spontaneous clinical improvement. The EUS follow up three months later shown pancreatic parenchyma with homogeneous echogenicity and no space occupying lesions were indentified. Since the diagnosis of FP has been reached after surgery in most cases, the treatment is not well established. However, no recurrences have been reported after surgery and spontaneous resolution has been observed in incomplete resections, which suggests the indication for conservative management. Diagnostic EUS has a fundamental role in the differential diagnosis between FP and pancreatic neoplasms, two entities with very different prognosis, and makes it possible to avoid, in the case of FP, unnecessary surgeries with the associated morbidity and mortality.

Multicriteria analysis of critical areas for restoration in a semiarid landscape: A comparison between stakeholder groups.

In landscape-scale ecological restoration, there is an urgent need to develop participatory systematic planning strategies and prioritization schemes that are operational under current technical and legal constraints. Different stakeholder groups may differ in their choice of criteria to define critical areas for restoration. Analyzing the correspondence between stakeholder characteristics and their expressed preferences is key to understand their values and facilitate consensus among the different groups. We analyzed the participatory identification of critical areas for restoration in a Mediterranean semiarid landscape of southeastern Spain by means of two Spatial Multicriteria Analyses. The first one included 33 ecological and socioeconomic prioritization criteria. The second included 24 ecosystem services. Prioritization criteria and services and their weights were based on the preferences of 46 stakeholders. We distinguished three stakeholder groups, according to their approach to ecological restoration. Stakeholders showed similarities regarding the most important criteria and services assessed. Yet, we found contrasted opinions between the group labeled as Biodiversity, who showed preference for Regulating Services and Ecosystem Functions, and the two groups labeled as Environment, and Agriculture & other occupations who assigned the highest importance to Provisioning and Cultural Services, along with highly Anthropized Environments. Maps integrating criteria and services weighted by the different groups of stakeholders were largely coincident, because of their overall agreement and the high number of criteria and services included in the analysis. Our approach allowed the identification of consensual critical areas for restoration, which were mainly covered by shrublands and rainfed crops, and mostly characterized by low to medium supply of ecosystem services. Our study emphasizes the need to recognize and integrate different social perspectives when identifying critical areas for restoration and highlights the importance of using complementary approaches as decision-making support tools to define these areas.

Jejunal varix with a high transfusion requirement: therapy with cyanoacrylate with radiological control by double-balloon enteroscopy.

A jejunal varix with high transfusion requirement is treated by double-balloon enteroscopy with cyanoacrylate/ lipiodol with radiological control. The patient had not gastrointestinal hemorrhage or transfusion requeriment after 8 months follow up. Our recent previous article in Rev Esp Enferm Dig on advanced therapeutics by enteroscopy is referenced, providing this new therapeutic possibility.

Fibre-Wood Laminate Biocomposites: Seawater Immersion Effects on Flexural and Low Energy Impact Properties.

The present paper explores a new concept of a hybrid eco-composite by substituting the natural fibre plies with thin wood veneers. The new composite, named Fibre-Wood Laminate (FWL), is inspired by fibre-metal laminate materials. The studied FWL configuration consisted of a single thin pinewood veneer at each of the outer layers of a flax woven fabric reinforced bio-epoxy composite manufactured by infusion. Three-point bending results showed that wood veneer gives a highly anisotropic nature to the FWL. In the best case, with the grain of the wood at 0°, the stiffness and the strength increased by 28 and 41%, respectively, but reduced the strain-at-break by 27% compared to the flax fibre reinforced bio-epoxy (FFRB). The penetration and perforation energy thresholds and the peak force of the FWL obtained by falling weight impact tests were 32, 29, and 31% lower than those of the FFRB, respectively. This weakening was due to using single wood veneers, so the challenge for improving impact properties will be to explore thicker FWLs with different stacking sequences and orientations. The effect of immersing the FWL in seawater also showed considerable differences. The epoxy matrix filled the cellular structure of the wood veneers, creating a barrier effect and reducing the amount of water absorbed by the flax fibres.

Vertical transmission: evidence of COVID-19 in a twin pregnancy.

This article reports the case of a 28-year-old female 31.6 weeks pregnant with twins diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, who delivered a boy and a girl. The newborns underwent RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2; the male tested negative and the female newborn tested positive, in that the female placenta was SARS-CoV-2 positive and the male placenta negative. Clinical and laboratory findings evincing vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 were identified. Strict, multidisciplinary prenatal care is recommended for this group of patients. This case report alone does not provide statistical evidence of vertical transmission, but it is an account of a relevant matter.

Evaluation of the Anti-Müllerian Hormone and its Association with Embryo Quality in Advanced Reproductive Treatments in a Latin American Population.

OBJECTIVE: Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) presents a strong positive correlation with quantitative aspects of the ovarian reserve, while its correlation with embryo quality is unclear. This study assessed the association between serum AMH as a marker of ovarian reserve and embryo quality, in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. METHODS: This observational analytical retrospective study included patients seen between 2010 and 2018. In vitro fertilization patients with measured AMH levels were analyzed based on the following parameters: number of retrieved oocytes; number of metaphase II oocytes; embryo quality; and treatment outcome. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, linear regression, and Pearson and Spearman correlations. RESULTS: We found a positive correlation between AMH levels, number of retrieved oocytes and number of metaphase II oocytes (r 0.649, p=0.000). The numbers of retrieved and metaphase II oocytes were predicted in 42% (R2: 429) of the cases based on AMH levels (p=0.000). Serum AMH levels were not associated with embryo quality on Day 3 (p=0.151); an association was seen between AMH levels and embryo quality on Day 5 (p=0.006). The distribution of AMH levels was the same across patients, regardless of whether they were able to achieve pregnancy (p=0.767). CONCLUSIONS: AMH levels correlated with embryo quality on Day 5; no association was found between AMH levels and embryo quality on Day 3 or pregnancy rate. The use of AMH levels to predict embryo quality still requires further studies; therefore, AMH should be used to assess the ovarian reserve only.

Surgical approach to uterine myomatosis in patients with infertility: open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery; results according to the quantity of fibroids.

OBJECTIVE: To compare approaches to myomectomy (laparotomic, laparoscopic, and robotic). To show the relationship between the number of fibroids and the reproduction diagnosis. METHODS: Observational, analytical, retrospective, and cross-sectional study; where the surgical approach used, was evaluated in terms of surgical bleeding, time, number and weight of fibroids and reproductive results. RESULTS: 69 patients were treated through different approaches and divided into 3 groups. The differences found among groups were in favor of laparotomic myomectomy in terms of the number (p=0.000) and weight of fibroids (p=0.004). Robotic surgery was also longer (p=0.000). In the analysis of the influence of the number of fibroids to achieve pregnancy, the result was in favor of the minimally invasive routes, after surgery, both in the group of < 6 fibroids (p=0.017), and that of > 6 fibroids (p=0.001), without differences in the time from surgery to pregnancy (p=0.979). CONCLUSIONS: The surgical approach decision should consider the number and size of resected fibroids, surgical time, and reproductive diagnosis. The minimally invasive route should be offered whenever possible due to its better outcome on achieving pregnancy, without forgetting the benefits of laparotomy, while also accrediting the recently introduced robotic-assisted approach.

Serum estradiol level on the day of trigger as a predictor of number of metaphase II oocytes from IVF antagonist cycles and subsequent impact on pregnancy rates.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between serum estradiol levels and number of metaphase II oocytes harvested after in vitro fertilization cycles used in embryo transfers and the subsequent impact on pregnancy rates. METHODS: This observational analytical retrospective study was carried out in 2010-2018 at the Angeles del Pedregal Hospital. It included 181 cases and looked into the number of metaphase II oocytes to predict pregnancy rates. Statistical analysis was based on the calculation of correlations between variables and logistic regressions. RESULTS: Estradiol levels increased with the number of oocytes by a median correlation (r=0.482, p=0.000). On the day of trigger, estradiol levels predicted the number of retrieved oocytes with 23% reliability (R2=0.232, p=0.000); a linear trend correlation of r=0.489, p=0.000 was found between estradiol levels on the day of trigger and number of metaphase II oocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Serum estradiol on the day of trigger as a predictor of metaphase II oocytes in antagonist cycles encourages greater oocyte maturity and fertilization, whereas, in isolation, it does not determine the pregnancy achievement.

Prevalencia de hormona antimülleriana en mujeres latinas atendidas en un centro de fertilidad en México / Antimüllerian hormone prevalence in Latin women treated at a fertility center in Mexico

Resumen Antecedentes: La hormona antimüllleriana (HAM) ha sido utilizada como marcador de reserva ovárica, lo cual ayuda a predecir el éxito. Se desconoce si valores de otros países son apicables a México. Objetivo: Determinar los valores de HAM en nuestra población para graficarlas acorde a grupos de edad y evaluar su comportamiento. Metodología: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal de pacientes del 2008 al 2018, con reporte de nivel de HAM excluyendo a pacientes con enfermedades que alteran su nivel, analizando por grupos de edad en un laboratorio. Resultados: 450 pacientes de 36.93 años, el rango del valor de la HAM fue desde 0.003 ng/ml hasta 9.4 ng/ml, con una media de 1.5, con una disminución anual a partir de los 40 años (0.1-0.3). Correlación de Spearman de -436 (p < 0.000) con una asociación leve entre la edad y el nivel de HAM, pero sí lineal (p < 0.000). Conclusiones: La HAM es útil y sirve para dar recomendaciones personalizadas, así como base de estudios epidemiológicos en pro de una medicina individualizada.

Abstract Background: Antimüllerian hormone (AMH) has been used as a marker of ovarian reserve, which helps predict success. It is unknown if values from other countries are applicable to Mexico. Objective: To determine the AMH values in our population to graph them according to age groups and evaluate their behavior. Methodology: Observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study of patients from 2008 to 2018, with a AMH level report excluding patients with diseases that alter their level, analyzing by age groups in a laboratory. Results: 450 patients of 36.93 years old, the range of the AMH value was from 0.003 ng/ml to 9.4 ng/ml, with a mean of 1.5, with an annual decrease from 40 years of age (0.1-0.3). Spearman's correlation of -436 (p < 0.000) with a slight association between age and AMH level, but it was linear (p < 0.000). Conclusions: AMH is useful and serves to give personalized recommendations, as well as basis of epidemiological studies in favor of an individualized medicine.

A Retrospective Nationwide Non-Interventional Study of an Aqueous Sublingual Immunotherapy Formulation Administered with a 200-µL Dosing Pump.

BACKGROUND: Convenient dosing is a key component of treatment adherence and thus efficacy and safety. Aqueous sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) formulations can be administered with a dosing pump that delivers 200 µL of volume per actuation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the use of Staloral® 300 Rapid in its new dosing pump presentation and to evaluate the safety and satisfaction from both the patient and doctor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective non-interventional study in a population (aged 5 years or over) of individuals with allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma who were being treated with aqueous 300 index of reactivity SLIT formulations of various allergens (grass pollen, tree pollen, house dust mites). Based on a detailed, SLIT-specific, patient self-questionnaire (Quartis®) and the inspection of medical records, we assessed the characteristics of the SLIT, safety, patient satisfaction and willingness to continue SLIT. The physician's satisfaction with the treatment was measured on a 0-100 visual analogue scale. Adverse events were coded with the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities. RESULTS: A total of 801 valid patients were included (52.4% male; mean ± standard deviation age: 25.9 ± 17.2 years; mean time since diagnosis: 4.56 ± 4.68 years; mean time using the previous dosing pump: 19.2 ± 13.0 months; time using the 200-µL dosing pump: 14.95 ± 3.80 months). Among the study population, 317 subjects comprised the paediatric subgroup (57%: male; mean age: 9.8 ± 2.5 years). Overall, 54 patients (6.7%) reported a total of 68 adverse events (including 51 gastrointestinal adverse events). The large majority of adverse events were mild, local and transient and did not require treatment. There were no severe adverse events. The level of patient satisfaction with the ease of SLIT administration was high (84.3% overall, and 82.6% in the paediatric subgroup). The mean ± standard deviation visual analogue scale score for physician satisfaction with the treatment was 70.6 ± 25.1 out of 100. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of 300 index of reactivity SLIT with a 200-µL dosing pump is safe, well tolerated and associated with good levels of patient satisfaction.

Factores de riesgo cardiovascular y renal, y perfil socioeconómico en individuos de la etnia wichi de "el impenetrable", chaco, argentina / Cardiovascular and renal risk factors and socioeconomics profile in individuals of the wichi ethnia group from "el impenetrable", chaco, argentina

Resumen Introducción: Varios estudios han demostrado en poblaciones indígenas alta prevalencia de obesidad, diabetes mellitus, hipertensión arterial, proteinuria y enfermedad renal crónica. Objetivo: Detectar factores de riesgo cardiovascular y renal, hipertensión arterial, sobrepeso y obesidad, obesidad central, diabetes y proteinuria, y evaluar nivel educativo, situación laboral, nivel socioeconómico y cobertura de salud en sujetos de la etnia wichi, habitantes de "El Impenetrable" chaqueño. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo observacional, de corte transversal, con muestra aleatoria de sujetos mayores de 18 años. La encuesta semiestructurada, y traducida a lengua wichi, incluyó: edad, sexo, sedentarismo, tabaquismo, nivel educativo, situación laboral, cobertura de salud y nivel socioeconómico. Se midió peso, talla, circunferencia de cintura, presión arterial sistólica y diastólica, glucemia y proteinuria. Se calculó el índice de masa corporal. Resultados: Se evaluaron 156 personas (el 58,3% varones, edad 34 ± 12 años). El índice de masa corporal fue de 27,9 ± 5,3, sin diferencia entre sexos. Presentó hipertensión arterial el 10,8%, sobrepeso el 34,0%, obesidad el 30,9%, obesidad central el 40,1% (mayor en mujeres, p= 0,03), tabaquismo el 17,4%, sedentarismo el 83,3%, y proteinuria el 14,5%. Se registró un único caso de diabetes. Solo 6,4% refirió trabajar, el 49,3% no había finalizado estudios primarios, el 61,7% calificó como marginal en el nivel socioeconómico, y solo el 3,8% tenía cobertura de salud. Conclusión: Este grupo poblacional evidencia un alto grado de vulnerabilidad alimentaria, educativa, laboral, social y sanitaria, reflejado en la alta prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular y renal (en particular exceso de peso y obesidad central), en el bajo nivel educativo, laboral y socioeconómico, y en la falta de cobertura de salud.

Abstract Introduction: Several studies have shown a high prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, proteinuria and chronic kidney disease in indigenous populations. Aim: To detect cardiovascular and renal risk factors, hypertension, overweight and obesity, truncal obesity, diabetes and proteinuria, and to evaluate educational level, employment situation, socioeconomic level and health care coverage in subjects from the Wichi ethnic group who inhabit in "El Impenetrable" in Chaco. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out, with a random sample of subjects over 18 years of age. The semi-structured survey, translated into the Wichi language, included: age, sex, sedentary lifestyle, smoking habit, educational level, employment situation, health care coverage and socioeconomic level. Weight, height, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose and proteinuria were measured. Body mass index was calculated. Results: 156 people were evaluated (58.3% men; age: 34 ± 12 years). The body mass index was 27.9 ± 5.3, with no difference between the sexes. Hypertension was present in 10.8% of individuals; overweight in 34.0%; obesity in 30.9%; truncal obesity in 40.1% (higher in women, p = 0.03); smoking habit in 17.4%; sedentary lifestyle in 83.3%, and proteinuria in 14.5%. A single case of diabetes was registered. Only 6.4% reported having a job, 49.3% had not completed primary studies, 61.7% qualified as marginal in terms of socioeconomic status, and only 3.8% had health care coverage. Conclusion: This population group shows a high degree of food, educational, occupational, social and health vulnerability, reflected in the high prevalence of cardiovascular and renal risk factors (particularly excess weight and truncal obesity), in the low educational, employment and socioeconomic levels, and in the lack of health coverage.

Linkage between Fluorescence and Electrochemical Properties of Imidazolium Compounds in Acetonitrile Solution.

The fluorescence properties of some imidazolium derivatives are relevant in photosensing and therefore, the structural analysis of them is a key point for its rational design, which would be useful to prepare new systems with novel applications. Herein we report a multidisciplinary study of the fluorescence and voltammetric properties of three imidazolium compounds {1,3-bis[(R,R)-1'-chloro-1'-phenylpropan-2'-yl]-imidazolium chloride (1), 1,3-bis[(Z)-1'-phenylprop-1'-en-2'-yl]imidazolium chloride (2) 1,3-bis[(R)-1'-chlorobutan-2'-yl]-imidazolium chloride (3)}. Electronic structure calculations and Bader analyses were used to correlate both fluorescence and the capability of the molecules to be reduced through a heterogeneous electron transfer process. Both properties are strongly dependent on the proton in position two of the imidazolium ring, where the electron transfer as well as the excitation of the electrons are carried out. The reactivity in this position is controlled by the N-substituents on the imidazolium ring and is due to single contacts H⋅⋅⋅Cl- , tricentric contacts Cl⋅⋅⋅Cl- ⋅⋅⋅Cl, π-electronic delocalization and π-stacking interactions.

High-intensity ultrasound applied on cured pork: Sensory and physicochemical characteristics.

This research aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and their relationship with sensory properties of cured porcine m. longissimus lumborum assisted by high-intensity ultrasound (HIU, 37 kHz, 22 Wcm-2). An experiment was designed with three factors at two levels each: type of curing (immersion or ultrasound-assisted -UA-), immersion time (30 or 90 min), and steak thickness (1.27 or 2.54 cm). After treatment and 7 days of storage at 4°C, the percentage of salt, pH, CIE L* a* b* color, water holding capacity (WHC), and shear force were determined in the samples. A quantitative descriptive analysis was performed using eight trained panelists. The HIU significantly increased the percentage of NaCl (p < .0005) and decreased the color saturation of the meat (p < .05), but did not affect the luminosity, redness (a*), yellowness (b*), pH, WHC, or shear force (all p > .05). The thickness of the steak had significant effects on almost all of the evaluated variables. Samples with 1.27 cm thickness had lower shear force, higher WHC and salt percentage (p < .0001). In agreement with this, the sensory profiles showed that the 1.27 cm samples treated with HIU for 30 min were perceived as less tough (more tender) and juicier.

Renal length and volume prediction in healthy children.

INTRODUCTION: Little information is available regarding the evaluation of renal volume in healthy Latin-American children of different ages. The objective of this work was to establish a predictive model of renal size (volume and length) and develop a web-based calculator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A selective and representative sample was obtained randomly from the database of healthy children living in Resistencia city, Chaco, Argentina: a) the National Health Program for children under 6 years old; b) school children until 18 years old (primary and middle education). Renal dimensions were obtained by ultrasonography via a single experienced operator at the indicated site (schools or primary health care centers). Renal volume was calculated using Dinkel's formula. A multiple linear regression model was applied using potential predictors. The final model was implemented in a free web-based application. RESULTS: Random selection was made from the database to include 882 subjects with ages between 0.03 and 230.63 months. The data was divided into two sets (one for training and the other for model testing). The training set (423) included 212 (50%) females. Significant predictors included age, height, current weight and birth weight, and the interaction between age and present weight. Using the test dataset, both renal volume and length root mean square errors were 5.06 cm3 and 0.59 cm. CONCLUSION: The prediction model was accurate and allowed for the development a freely-available web app: Renal size prediction (https://porbm28.shinyapps.io/RenalVolume/). Once the models are validated by additional studies, the app could be a useful tool to predict renal volume and length in pediatric clinical practice.