Design of a Multisensory Device for Tomato Volatile Compound Detection Based on a Mixed Metal Oxide-Electrochemical Sensor Array and Optical Reader.

Insufficient control of tomato ripening before harvesting and infection by fungal pests produce large economic losses in world tomato production. Aroma is an indicative parameter of the state of maturity and quality of the tomato. This study aimed to design an electronic system (TOMATO-NOSE) consisting of an array of 12 electrochemical sensors, commercial metal oxide semiconductor sensors, an optical camera for a lateral flow reader, and a smartphone application for device control and data storage. The system was used with tomatoes in different states of ripeness and health, as well as tomatoes infected with Botrytis cinerea. The results obtained through principal component analysis of the olfactory pattern of tomatoes and the reader images show that TOMATO-NOSE is a good tool for the farmer to control tomato ripeness before harvesting and for the early detection of Botrytis cinerea.

Trastornos motores del colon / Large intestine motility disorders

Los trastornos motores del colon son muy frecuentes en la población y en la práctica médica. Se consideran como tales: el síndrome del intestino irritable, la distensión abdominal funcional, la diarrea funcional, y la constipación funcional. Las causas del problema no son conocidas pero se ha establecido que los síntomas se generan en la dismotilidad colónica y son influenciados por factores dietéticos, hormonales, ambientales, y psicosociales. La historia clínica es fundamental para el diagnóstico y la futura conducta terapéutica. El tratamiento generalmente incluye indicaciones dietéticas, administración de fibra, salvado de trigo o afrecho, y medidas de soporte educativo y psicológico; así mismo, según el criterio clínico, se puede recurrir a fármacos como los anticolinérgicos o los procinéticos, o a medicación psicotrópica sean ansiolíticos o antidepresivos. Debe haber una estrecha relación médico paciente.

Motor disorders of the colon are very common in the population and in the medical practice. The functional bowell disorders are: the irritable bowell syndrome, functional abdominal distention, functional diarrhea, and functional constipation. Causes areunknown but it is recognized that symptoms are generated by colon dysmotility, and symptoms can be influenced by diet, hormonal, environmental, and psychosocial factors. The clinical history is very important for diagnosis and treatment. In general, therapy include diet indication, brand, and educational and psychological support; sometimes physicians help the patients with pharmacotherapy as anticholinergic or prokinetic agents, or with psychopharmacologic agents. It must be a strong physicians patient relationship.