Factorial Design to Optimize Dextran Production by the Native Strain Leuconostoc mesenteroides SF3.

Dextran is an extracellular bacterial polysaccharide for which industrial applications have been found in different areas. Several researchers have optimized the fermentation conditions to maximize dextran production. This study aimed to characterize the dextran of Leuconostoc mesenteroides SF3, which was isolated from the aguamiel of Agave salmiana. To maximize the yield of dextran, the effects of sucrose concentration, temperature, and incubation time were studied. The experiments were conducted using a factorial design and a response surface methodology. L. mesenteroides SF3 produced a maximum yield of dextran (23.8 g/L ± 4) after 16 h of incubation at 25 °C with 10% sucrose. The functional properties such as water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, and emulsion activity of this unique dextran were 361.8% ± 3.1, 212.0% ± 6.7, and 58.3% ± 0.7, respectively. These properties indicate that the dextran produced by L. mesenteroides SF3 is a high-quality polysaccharide with potential applications in the food industry, and the optimized conditions for its production could be used for the commercial production of this dextran, which have significant industrial perspectives.

Respiratory symptoms (COPD Assessment Test and modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scores) and GOLD-ABCD COPD classification: the LASSYC study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and severity of 24-hour respiratory symptoms according to COPD GOLD-ABCD classification (2017-version), the distribution of the patients with COPD into GOLD categories using mMRC (≥2) or CAT (≥10) scores, and agreement between these cut-off points. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study (LASSYC study), 24-hour day respiratory symptoms were assessed by the Evaluating Respiratory Symptoms in COPD (E-RS) questionnaire, Nighttime Symptoms of COPD Instrument (NiSCI), Early Morning Symptoms of COPD Instrument (EMSCI), CAT and mMRC scores. RESULTS: Among the 734 patients with COPD, 61% were male, age 69.6±8.7 years, FEV1% post-BD 49.1±17.5%, mMRC 1.8±1.0 and CAT 15.3±.8.1. By mMRC 33.7% were group-A, 29.2% group-B, 10.2% group-C and 26.9% group-D. By CAT 22.3% were group-A, 41% group-B, 4.8% group-C and 31.9% group-D. Using the mMRC the severity of E-RS, NiSCI and EMSCI scores increased from group A to D. Using the CAT, the groups B and D had the higher scores. Agreement between mMRC and CAT was 89.5% (Kappa statistics=75.7%). For mMRC score of 2, CAT score of ≥11 showed the maximum Youden's index (1.34). For mMRC score of 1, CAT score of ≥9 and ≥10 showed the maximum Youden's index (1.48). CONCLUSION: GOLD COPD classification by CAT seems to better discriminate 24-hour symptoms. Results do not support the equivalent use of CAT≥10 and mMRC≥2 for assessing symptoms.

Respiratory symptoms (COPD Assessment Test and modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scores) and GOLD-ABCD COPD classification: the LASSYC study / Sintomas respiratórios (Teste de Avaliação da DPOC e pontuação modificada de dispneia do Conselho de Pesquisa Médica) e classificação GOLD-ABCD COPD: o estudo LASSYC

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the frequency and severity of 24-hour respiratory symptoms according to COPD GOLD-ABCD classification (2017-version), the distribution of the patients with COPD into GOLD categories using mMRC (≥2) or CAT (≥10) scores, and agreement between these cut-off points. Methods In this cross-sectional study (LASSYC study), 24-hour day respiratory symptoms were assessed by the Evaluating Respiratory Symptoms in COPD (E-RS) questionnaire, Nighttime Symptoms of COPD Instrument (NiSCI), Early Morning Symptoms of COPD Instrument (EMSCI), CAT and mMRC scores. Results Among the 734 patients with COPD, 61% were male, age 69.6±8.7 years, FEV1% post-BD 49.1±17.5%, mMRC 1.8±1.0 and CAT 15.3±.8.1. By mMRC 33.7% were group-A, 29.2% group-B, 10.2% group-C and 26.9% group-D. By CAT 22.3% were group-A, 41% group-B, 4.8% group-C and 31.9% group-D. Using the mMRC the severity of E-RS, NiSCI and EMSCI scores increased from group A to D. Using the CAT, the groups B and D had the higher scores. Agreement between mMRC and CAT was 89.5% (Kappa statistics=75.7%). For mMRC score of 2, CAT score of ≥11 showed the maximum Youden's index (1.34). For mMRC score of 1, CAT score of ≥9 and ≥10 showed the maximum Youden's index (1.48). Conclusion GOLD COPD classification by CAT seems to better discriminate 24-hour symptoms. Results do not support the equivalent use of CAT≥10 and mMRC≥2 for assessing symptoms.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a frequência e gravidade dos sintomas respiratórios de 24 horas de acordo com a classificação COPD GOLD-ABCD (versão 2017), a distribuição dos pacientes com DPOC nas categorias GOLD usando escores mMRC (≥2) ou CAT (≥10) e concordância entre esses pontos de corte. Métodos Neste estudo transversal (estudo LASSYC), os sintomas respiratórios diários de 24 horas foram avaliados pelo questionário Avaliando os Sintomas Respiratórios em DPOC (Evaluating Respiratory Symptoms - E-RS), Instrumento de Sintomas Noturnos de DPOC (Nighttime Symptoms of COPD Instrument -NiSCI), Instrumento de Sintomas Matinais de DPOC (Early Morning Symptoms of COPD Instrument - EMSCI), pontuações CAT e mMRC. Resultados Entre os 734 pacientes com DPOC, 61% eram do sexo masculino, idade 69,6 ± 8,7 anos, VEF1% pós-BD 49,1 ± 17,5%, mMRC 1,8 ± 1,0 e CAT 15,3 ± 0,8,1. Por mMRC 33,7% eram do grupo A, 29,2% do grupo B, 10,2% do grupo C e 26,9% do grupo D. Por CAT, 22,3% eram do grupo A, 41% do grupo B, 4,8% do grupo C e 31,9% do grupo D. Usando o mMRC, a gravidade dos escores E-RS, NiSCI e EMSCI aumentou do grupo A para D. Usando o CAT, os grupos B e D tiveram os escores mais altos. A concordância entre mMRC e CAT foi de 89,5% (estatística Kappa = 75,7%). Para a pontuação mMRC de 2, a pontuação CAT ≥11 mostrou o índice de Youden máximo (1,34). Para a pontuação mMRC de 1, a pontuação CAT ≥9 e ≥10 mostrou o índice de Youden máximo (1,48). Conclusão A classificação GOLD COPD por CAT parece discriminar melhor os sintomas de 24 horas. Os resultados não suportam o uso equivalente de CAT≥10 e mMRC≥2 para avaliação dos sintomas.

External validation of the PUMA COPD diagnostic questionnaire in a general practice sample and the PLATINO study population.

Background: A seven-item prescreening questionnaire (gender, age, pack-years smoking, dyspnea, sputum, cough, previous spirometry data) was developed for COPD detection in the primary care setting (PUMA Study) of four Latin America countries. Objectives: To validate the PUMA prescreening COPD questionnaire externally in two different populations (primary care and general). Methods: The PUMA prescreening COPD questionnaire score was applied to subjects from the Hospital Maciel, Montevideo (primary care), case-finding program and the PLATINO population (general) using PUMA study inclusion criteria. Post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70 and lower limit of normal (LLN) criteria were used to define COPD. Area under the received operator curve (ROCAUC), sensitivity, specificity, predictive positive and negative values (PNV), number needed to treat (NNT), and best cut-points of the score were calculated. Results: 974 individuals from Hospital Maciel and 2512 from the PLATINO population were eligible, using post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70, 45.1% and 18.7% had COPD, respectively, and using LLN 38.4% and 15.4% had COPD, respectively. From Hospital Maciel (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70), the best cut-point of ≥6 had moderate discriminatory power (ROCAUC 0.70), sensitivity 69.9%, specificity 62.1%, PNV 70.9%, and NNT of 3. The discriminatory power was 0.73 (ROCAUC) in the PLATINO population with three potential cut-points (Youden's index): ≥3 (sensitivity 85.4%, specificity 46.9%), ≥4 (sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 66.5%), and ≥5 (sensitivity 51.5%, specificity 81.6%); the PNV at each cut-point was 93.3%, 89.9%, and 88.0%, respectively. The NNT was 5 for scores ≥3 and ≥4, and 4 for ≥5. The mean accuracy using the LLN for Hospital Maciel and PLATINO was 0.67 and 0.70, respectively. Conclusion: External validation of the PUMA prescreening questionnaire in two Latin American populations (general and primary care) suggests moderate accuracy, similar to the original study in which the questionnaire was developed.

Respiratory medication used in COPD patients from seven Latin American countries: the LASSYC study.

Background: Limited information is available regarding medication use in COPD patients from Latin America. This study evaluated the type of medication used and the adherence to different inhaled treatments in stable COPD patients from the Latin American region. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, multinational, and multicenter study in COPD patients attended by specialist doctors from seven Latin American countries. Adherence to inhaled therapy was assessed using the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI) questionnaire. The type of medication was assessed as: short-acting ß-agonist (SABA) or short-acting muscarinic antagonist (SAMA) only, long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), long-acting ß-agonist (LABA), LABA/LAMA, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), ICS/LABA, ICS/LAMA/LABA, or other. Results: In total, 795 patients were included (59.6% male), with a mean age of 69.5±8.7 years and post-bronchodilator FEV1 of 50.0%±18.6%. The ICS/LAMA/LABA (32.9%) and ICS/LABA (27.7%) combinations were the most common medications used, followed by LABA/LAMA (11.3%), SABA or SAMA (7.9%), LABA (6.4%), LAMA (5.8%), and ICS (4.3%). The types of medication most commonly used in each Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2013 category were ICS/LABA (A: 32.7%; B: 19.8%; C: 25.7%; D: 28.2%) and ICS/LAMA/LABA (A: 17.3%; B: 30.2%; C: 33%; D: 41.1%). The use of long-acting bronchodilators showed the highest adherence (good or high adherence >50%) according to the TAI questionnaire. Conclusion: COPD management in specialist practice in Latin America does not follow the current guideline recommendations and there is an overuse of ICSs in patients with COPD from this region. Treatment regimens including the use of long-acting bronchodilators are associated with the highest adherence.