Morphological, barrier, and mechanical properties of banana starch films reinforced with cellulose nanoparticles from plantain rachis.

The main aim of the present study was to characterize banana starch films reinforced with nanoparticles from plantain rachis. Nanoparticles were obtained by acid hydrolysis and sonication, exhibiting a mean hydraulic diameter of about 60 nm. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the nanoparticle thickness ranged between 9.8 and 22.3 nm. The thermal gravimetric analysis showed that nanoparticles are thermally stable for temperatures up to 340 °C. Films were made for different fractions of nanoparticles (0.0, 1.75, 2.5, and 4.0%) relative to total solids, and glycerol was used as a plasticizer. The influence of the addition of nanoparticles to starch films on the morphology, water vapor permeability (WVP), and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites films was explored. Cellulose nanoparticles reduced the WVP, and increased the tensile strength and flexibility of the starch films. FTIR analysis of films was used to show that nanoparticles improved the molecular organization of starch chains. It was proposed that nanoparticles acted as a crosslinked for starch chains via hydrogen bonding effects.

Asma, rinitis y seguridad vial / Asthma, rhinitis and road safety

Introducción: Las lesiones por accidente de tráfico constituyen uno de los principales problemas de salud de la población mundial en los inicios del siglo XXI. En este estudio nos planteamos estudiar si existe una mayor prevalencia de accidentalidad en la conducción en personas con diagnóstico de asma y/o rinitis. Método: Se eligieron, de forma consecutiva durante un periodo de tres meses, a pacientes que acudieron a consultas de dos centros de Salud sin aquejar patología crónica, todos ellos con un rango de edad entre 18 y 65 años, conductores habituales y a un grupo de enfermos de las consultas de neumología, alergia y ORL de Hospital de Jerez, con diagnóstico de asma/rinitis. A estos pacientes se les entrevistó siguiendo cuestionario preestablecido, recogiéndose datos demográficos, consumo de tabaco antecedentes de siniestralidad en la conducción, características del asma y la rinitis y la escala Goldberg Anxiety-Depression (GADS) para la valoración de la existencia de comorbilidad psiquiátrica. Se calculó la prevalencia de accidentalidad en cada grupo y en los pacientes con diagnóstico de rinitis/asma, también en función de estos diagnósticos y su gravedad. Resultados: Se entrevistó a 424 personas sanas (49,3% mujeres) de 38 años de edad media y a 185 pacientes asmáticos/riníticos (52,4% mujeres), con edad media de 45 años. Un 67,6% de ellos padecían rinitis con o sin asma. Referían haber sufrido accidentes de tráfico un 33,8% del grupo control y el 41,6% de los pacientes asmáticos (p <0,001). Los pacientes que presentaban solamente rinitis (n = 125) concentraron más accidentes que la población sana del grupo control (0,48 ± 0,51 vs 0,34 ± 0,47; p < 0,001). La siniestralidad mostró relación con el grado de control del asma y la gravedad del asma y rinitis. Conclusiones: Existen indicios de una mayor siniestralidad en la conducción entre personas asmáticas y riníticas, que podría estar relacionada con la gravedad de estas patologías

Introduction: injuries from traffic accidents constitute one of the main health problems for the global population in the early 21st century. This study aims to determine if there is a greater prevalence of accident-causing driving among individuals diagnosed with asthma and/or rhinitis. Method: patients visiting two health centers who were not afflicted with chronic disease were recruited consecutively over the course of three months. All participants ranged between 18 and 65 years old, and were habitual drivers. A group of ill patients with a diagnosis of asthma/rhinitis were also recruited from the pulmonology, allergy and ENT departments at the Hospital de Jerez. These patients were interviewed following a predetermined questionnaire, collecting demographic data, tobacco use, history of driving accidents, characteristics of the asthma and rhinitis and the Goldberg Anxiety-Depression Scale (GADS) was used to evaluate the existence of a psychiatric comorbidity. The prevalence of accidents was calculated in each group and among the patients with a diagnosis of rhinitis/asthma, as well as according to diagnosis and severity. Results: 424 healthy individuals (49.3% women) were interviewed with an average age of 38. We also interviewed 185 patients with asthma/rhinitis (52.4% women), with an average age of 45. Of those interviewed, 67.6% suffered from rhinitis with or without asthma. A total of 33.8% of the control group and 41.6% of asthmatic patients (p <0.001) reported having suffered traffic accidents. Patients suffering only from rhinitis (n = 125) had more accidents than the healthy population in the control group (0.48 ± 0.51 vs 0.34 ± 0.47; p < 0.001). Accidents showed a correlation with the level of asthma control and the severity of asthma and rhinitis. Conclusions: there is a higher rate of driving accidents among individuals suffering from asthma and rhinitis, which may be related to the severity of these illnesses