Does Regulated Deficit Irrigation Affect Pear Fruit Texture by Modifying the Stone Cells?

Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies aim to improve water usage without reducing yield. Generally, irrigation strategy effectiveness is measured as fruit yield, with little consideration of fruit quality. As water deficit and increased plant cell sclerification are often associated, this study explored the effect of RDI on pear fruit stone cells, a crucial trait affecting flesh texture. The presence, distribution, and development of pear fruit stone cells under RDI and full irrigation were compared using Pyrus communis L. cv. Barlett trees, employing recently developed microscope image analysis technology. The control treatment was maintained under non-stress conditions, while the RDI treatment received an average of 15% of the control water during the latter part of Stage I fruit development. Observations at the end of Stage I and at harvest revealed no effect on stone cell presence under the RDI strategy tested. The relative area of stone cells within the flesh was greater at Stage I than at harvest, as stone cell expansion occurred early in development, while the (unsclerified) parenchyma cells, a dominant component of the fruit flesh, expanded until harvest. Stone cell cluster density was higher near the fruit core than in the cortex center and exterior. These initial results suggest that well-planned RDI strategies will generally not affect pear fruit stone cell content and, thus, textural quality. Microscope image analysis supported the results from previously used analytical techniques, mainly chemical, while providing a tool for better understanding the process and factors involved in the timing of stone cell differentiation.

Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women with Lupus: Retrospective Study in a Portuguese Tertiary Center.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy in women with lupus poses a higher risk of complications compared with the general population. The present study aimed to determine and describe the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with lupus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an observational retrospective study of pregnant women with the diagnosis of lupus, who were selected and followed at the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic of our institution between January 2013 and July 2018. We analyzed 59 pregnancies and 52 newborns, and collected data regarding sociodemographic features, the preconception period, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and the newborn. A descriptive analysis of the variables was performed. RESULTS: In 58% of the cases, the pregnancy was uneventful. We registered flares in 25% of the cases, preeclampsia in 3%, fetal growth restriction in 12%, gestational loss in 10%, preterm labor in 10%, postpartum complications in 20%, and small for gestational age newborns in 17% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Most pregnancies in women with lupus have favorable obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Prenatal counseling, adequate multidisciplinary surveillance, and optimized treatment of the disease are fundamental pillars for these good results.

OBJETIVO: A gravidez em mulheres com lúpus representa um risco maior de complicações em comparação com a população em geral. O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar e descrever os resultados obstétricos e neonatais de gestantes com lúpus. MATERIAIS E MéTODOS: Realizamos um estudo retrospectivo observacional de gestantes com diagnóstico de lúpus, selecionadas e acompanhadas no Ambulatório de Medicina Materno-Fetal de nossa instituição entre janeiro de 2013 e julho de 2018. Analisamos 59 gestações e 52 recém-nascidos e coletamos dados referentes às características sociodemográficas, período pré-concepcional, gravidez, parto, pós-parto e nascimento. Foi realizada uma análise descritiva das variáveis. RESULTADOS: Em 58% dos casos, a gravidez transcorreu sem intercorrências. Registramos surtos em 25% dos casos, pré-eclâmpsia em 3%, restrição do crescimento fetal em 12%, perda gestacional em 10%, trabalho de parto prematuro em 10%, complicações pós-parto em 20% e recém-nascidos pequenos para a idade gestacional em 17% dos casos. CONCLUSõES: A maioria das gestações em mulheres com lúpus tem resultados obstétricos e neonatais favoráveis. Aconselhamento pré-natal, vigilância multidisciplinar adequada e tratamento otimizado da doença são pilares fundamentais para esses bons resultados.

Time Interval Between the End of Neoadjuvant Therapy and Elective Resection of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer in the CRONOS Study.

Importance: The treatment for extraperitoneal locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME). Robust evidence on the optimal time interval between NAT completion and surgery is lacking. Objective: To assess the association of time interval between NAT completion and TME with short- and long-term outcomes. It was hypothesized that longer intervals increase the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate without increasing perioperative morbidity. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included patients with LARC from 6 referral centers who completed NAT and underwent TME between January 2005 and December 2020. The cohort was divided into 3 groups depending on the time interval between NAT completion and surgery: short (≤8 weeks), intermediate (>8 and ≤12 weeks), and long (>12 weeks). The median follow-up duration was 33 months. Data analyses were conducted from May 1, 2021, to May 31, 2022. The inverse probability of treatment weighting method was used to homogenize the analysis groups. Exposure: Long-course chemoradiotherapy or short-course radiotherapy with delayed surgery. Main outcome and Measures: The primary outcome was pCR. Other histopathologic results, perioperative events, and survival outcomes constituted the secondary outcomes. Results: Among the 1506 patients, 908 were male (60.3%), and the median (IQR) age was 68.8 (59.4-76.5) years. The short-, intermediate-, and long-interval groups included 511 patients (33.9%), 797 patients (52.9%), and 198 patients (13.1%), respectively. The overall pCR was 17.2% (259 of 1506 patients; 95% CI, 15.4%-19.2%). When compared with the intermediate-interval group, no association was observed between time intervals and pCR in short-interval (odds ratio [OR], 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55-1.01) and long-interval (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.73-1.61) groups. The long-interval group was significantly associated with lower risk of bad response (tumor regression grade [TRG] 2-3; OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.24-0.91), systemic recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.96), higher conversion risk (OR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.62-6.07), minor postoperative complications (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.04-1.97), and incomplete mesorectum (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.02-3.50) when compared with the intermediate-interval group. Conclusions and Relevance: Time intervals longer than 12 weeks were associated with improved TRG and systemic recurrence but may increase surgical complexity and minor morbidity.

Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women with Lupus: Retrospective Study in a Portuguese Tertiary Center / Desfechos obstétricos e perinatais de grávidas com lúpus: Estudo retrospectivo em um centro terciário português

Abstract Objective Pregnancy in women with lupus poses a higher risk of complications compared with the general population. The present study aimed to determine and describe the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with lupus. Materials and Methods We conducted an observational retrospective study of pregnant women with the diagnosis of lupus, who were selected and followed at the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic of our institution between January 2013 and July 2018. We analyzed 59 pregnancies and 52 newborns, and collected data regarding sociodemographic features, the preconception period, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and the newborn. A descriptive analysis of the variables was performed. Results In 58% of the cases, the pregnancy was uneventful. We registered flares in 25% of the cases, preeclampsia in 3%, fetal growth restriction in 12%, gestational loss in 10%, preterm labor in 10%, postpartum complications in 20%, and small for gestational age newborns in 17% of the cases. Conclusions Most pregnancies in women with lupus have favorable obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Prenatal counseling, adequate multidisciplinary surveillance, and optimized treatment of the disease are fundamental pillars for these good results.

Resumo Objetivo A gravidez em mulheres com lúpus representa um risco maior de complicações em comparação com a população em geral. O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar e descrever os resultados obstétricos e neonatais de gestantes com lúpus. Materiais e Métodos Realizamos um estudo retrospectivo observacional de gestantes com diagnóstico de lúpus, selecionadas e acompanhadas no Ambulatório de Medicina Materno-Fetal de nossa instituição entre janeiro de 2013 e julho de 2018. Analisamos 59 gestações e 52 recém-nascidos e coletamos dados referentes às características sociodemográficas, período pré-concepcional, gravidez, parto, pós-parto e nascimento. Foi realizada uma análise descritiva das variáveis. Resultados Em 58% dos casos, a gravidez transcorreu sem intercorrências. Registramos surtos em 25% dos casos, pré-eclâmpsia em 3%, restrição do crescimento fetal em 12%, perda gestacional em 10%, trabalho de parto prematuro em 10%, complicações pós-parto em 20% e recém-nascidos pequenos para a idade gestacional em 17% dos casos. Conclusões A maioria das gestações em mulheres com lúpus tem resultados obstétricos e neonatais favoráveis. Aconselhamento pré-natal, vigilância multidisciplinar adequada e tratamento otimizado da doença são pilares fundamentais para esses bons resultados.

Defining Amaranth, Buckwheat and Quinoa Flour Levels in Gluten-Free Bread: A Simultaneous Improvement on Physical Properties, Acceptability and Nutrient Composition through Mixture Design.

The study aimed to define the ideal proportions of pseudocereal flours (PF) in sensory-accepted gluten-free bread (GFB) formulations. The characteristics of GFB developed with PF (amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa) were verified through a mixture design and response surface methodology. Three simplex-centroid designs were studied to analyze the effects of each PF and their interactions with potato starch (PS), and rice flour (RF) on GFB's physical and sensory characteristics, each design producing three single, three binary and six ternary GFB formulations. Results showed that using PF alone resulted in unacceptable GFB. However, the interactions between PF and RF improved the loaf specific volume and the crumb softness and also enhanced appearance, color, odor, texture, flavor, and overall liking. Moreover, the composite formulations prepared with 50% PF and 50% RF (flour basis) presented physical properties and acceptability scores like those of white GFB, prepared with 100% RF or a 50% RF + 50% PS blend (flour basis). Maximum proportions of PF to obtain well-accepted GFB (scores ≥7 for all evaluated attributes on a 10-cm hybrid hedonic scale) were defined at 60% for amaranth flour (AF), 85% for buckwheat flour (BF), and 82% for quinoa flour (QF) in blends with RF.

Influence of pseudocereals on gluten-free bread quality: A study integrating dough rheology, bread physical properties and acceptability.

This study describes the use of the Mixture Design for simultaneals to improve the physical properties and acceptability of gluten-free bread (GFB) based on whole pseudocereals flour, as well as to define dough and bread instrumental predictors of the sensory quality of GFB. Three simplex-centroid designs were used to study the effects of each pseudocereal flour (amaranth - AF, buckwheat - BF, and quinoa - QF) blended with rice flour (RF) and potato starch (PS) on dough and bread properties. A total of 30 GFB formulations were produced and evaluated. Results reveal relationships between dough Mixolab parameters, such as C3 and C4, related to gelatinization and starch stability, with crumb moisture and firmness of GFB formulation, in which higher values of these parameters related to higher acceptability scores (>7 on a 10 cm hydroid hedonic scale). However, higher values of the secondary parameter C3-C4 was related to lower loaf-specific volume, impairing appearance and texture acceptability, as well as overall liking. The interaction effects between pseudocereal flour and RF increases dough consistency, bread volume, softness, and acceptability. Blends of 50% AF, BF, or QF with 50% RF results in GFB with high acceptability (overall liking of 8). The maximum pseudocereal proportions to obtain acceptable GFB (scores ≥ 7 for appearance, color, odor, texture, flavor acceptability and overall liking) were 60% AF, 85% BF, and 82% QF blended with RF. The combination of instrumental and sensory methods was useful to identify parameters capable of predicting the GFB quality, which may be useful for food scientists and producers to face the challenges regarding the development of healthier and better quality GFB to meet consumer needs.

Effects of Deficit Irrigation, Rootstock, and Roasting on the Contents of Fatty Acids, Phytoprostanes, and Phytofurans in Pistachio Kernels.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a drought-tolerant species grown under the semiarid conditions of the Mediterranean basin. For this reason, it is essential to make an exhaustive quantification of yield and quality benefits of the kernels because the regulated deficit irrigation will allow significant water savings with a minimum impact on yield while improving kernel quality. The goal of this scientific work was to study the influence of the rootstock, water deficit during pit hardening, and kernel roasting on pistachio (P. vera, cv. Kerman) fruit yield, fruit size, and kernel content of fatty acids phytoprostanes (PhytoPs) and phytofurans (PhytoFs) for the first time. Water stress during pit hardening did not affect the pistachio yield. The kernel cultivar showed a lower oleic acid and a higher linoleic acid contents than other cultivars. Kernels from plants grafted on the studied rootstocks showed very interesting characteristics. P. integerrima led to the highest percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids. Regarding the plant oxylipins, P. terebinthus led to the highest contents of PhytoPs and PhytoFs (1260 ng/100 g and 16.2 ng/100 g, respectively). In addition, nuts from trees cultivated under intermediate water deficit during pit hardening showed increased contents of the 9-series F1-phytoprostanes and ent-16(RS)-9-epi-ST-Δ14-10-phytofuran. However, roasting of pistachios led to PhytoP degradation. Therefore, plant cultivar, deficit irrigation, rootstock, and roasting must be considered to enhance biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites. New tools using agricultural strategies to produce hydroSOS pistachios have been opened thanks to the biological properties of these prostaglandin-like compounds linking agriculture, nutrition, and food science technology for further research initiatives.

ENEMDU Ecuador: estudio de la percepción de la seguridad y salud, 2018 / ENEMDU Ecuador: Study of the perception of health and safety, 2018

Resumen Introducción: a partir de la Encuesta Nacional de Empleo, Desempleo y Subempleo (ENEMDU), realizada por el Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos de Ecuador (INEC) en junio 2018, que representa uno de los instrumentos estadísticos más importantes para conocer la situación laboral en el país, se realiza el presente estudio. Objetivo: describir y analizar la percepción de la seguridad y salud, asociadas a características socio-demográficas y laborales en Ecuador. Metodología: consistió en un estudio de tipo cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal, se aplicó un muestreo probabilístico y se determinó que 28.636 personas cumplen con la condición de estar laborando actualmente; se utilizó el software SPSS para el desarrollo de frecuencias absolutas y relativas, y el cálculo de prueba chi-cuadrado. Resultados: el 3,7 % de los encuestados afirman que se les ha realizado un examen preocupacional y el 7,2 % afirman que se les ha realizado un examen periódico; a su vez, el 42 % ha sido informado sobre los riesgos en su trabajo y el 14 % ha sido capacitado sobre el riesgo al que está expuesto. Discusión: lo que indica un déficit de la gestión de seguridad y salud a nivel nacional. Conclusión: se pone en manifiesto la necesidad de identificar los factores de riesgos laborales y su impacto en la salud, que en conjunto a registros oficiales permitan conocer las realidades de las organizaciones para establecer nuevas políticas de seguridad y salud en el país.

Abstract Introduction: this study was carried out based on the National Survey of Employment, Unemployment and Underemployment (ENEMDU), conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses of Ecuador (INEC) in June 2018, which represents one of the most important statistical tools to know the labor situation in the country. Objective: To describe and analyze the perception of safety and health, associated with socio-demographic and work characteristics in Ecuador. Methodology: it consisted of a quantitative, descriptive and transversal research. A probabilistic sampling method was applied being 28.636 people who meet the condition of being working at this time. SPSS software was used for the development of absolute and relative frequencies and calculation of chi-square test. Results: the results show that 3.7 % of the respondents have had a pre-occupational exam and 7.2 % have been periodically examined; in turn, 42 % have been informed about the risks at work and 14% have been trained on the risk to which they are exposed. Discussion: these results indicate a deficit of Health and Safety Management at the national level, Conclusion: This work highlights the need to identify the factors of Occupational risks and their impact on health, which together with official records allow to know the realities of organizations to establish new health and safety policies in the country.

Giant Basal Cell Carcinoma: A 12-Year Follow-up Case Report.

Giant basal cell carcinomas (GBCCs) are a strange and aggressive variety of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs); they are characterized by deep tissue invasion, rapid growth, high risk of metastasis, and a poor prognosis. GBCCs represent 0.4%-1% of all BCCs. The pathogenesis of GBCC is sometimes linked to a spontaneous mutation in the PTCH gene, mapped to the q22.33 locus of chromosome 9. The key factor in the development of GBCC, in at least 30% of the cases, is the delay in seeking medical attention (7.5 ± 3.1 years). This is associated to a poor socioeconomic level, deficient hygiene, mental illness, advanced age, and the fact that BCCs are painless lesions. The authors present a Mexican female with a 2-year ulcer diagnosed as a GBCC in the year 2000, its initial therapeutic approach, and her follow-up during the next 12 years.