Título del artículo:

Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in shelter dogs in Bucaramanga metropolitan area, Colombia

The heartworm Dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and cats and also infects humans. The current knowledge about this parasite in South America is scarce compared to North America and Europe. Nevertheless, this parasite has been reported in some regions of Colombia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with D. immitis infection in shelter dogs from Bucaramanga metropolitan area. We performed a cross-sectional study using blood samples from shelter dogs. Microfilariae testing of whole blood included a blood smear and modified Knott\'s test. Antigen testing of serum was performed using the Anigen Rapid HW Ag Test Kit 2.0 ®. A descriptive analysis and univariable logistic regression analysis were applied. A total of 207 whole blood samples, from 7 shelters dogs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, were utilized. The overall prevalence of D. immitis observed in shelter dogs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area by blood smears and modified Knott\'s test was 6.3% (13/ 207) and 0.5% (1/207) by immunochromatography test kit. Regarding the prevalence by municipalities, there was a statistical association (P < .05), indicating that the prevalence was higher in dogs in Girón municipality. Likewise, there was a statistical association (P < .05) between the prevalence with respect to heartworm knowledge and mosquito control. For prevalence by gender, age group, dog breed, and hair length, there was no statistical association (P > .05). For Girón municipality there was a 7.1 times (OR = 7.1; CI95% 0.8–59.2; P < .05) increased infection risk. This study provides current data and the first known report of the prevalence of D. immitis microfilaremia and antigenemia in shelter dogs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, and these results could be useful for designing new control measures for this infection. We observed that the prevalence of both microfilaremia and antigenemia was significantly lower in these sampled dogs compared to previous reports.

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Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports

Título del artículo:

Risk of dengue virus infection according to serostatus in individuals from dengue endemic areas of Mexico

The variability in the host immune response directed against dengue virus (DENV) has demonstrated the need to understand the immune response associated with protection in incident infection. The objective was to estimate the association between serostatus and the risk of incident DENV infection. We used a prospective study from 2014 to 2016 in the localities of Axochiapan and Tepalcingo, Morelos, Mexico. We recruited 966 participants, of which, according to their infection history registered were categorized in four groups. To accomplish the objectives of this study, we selected to 400 participants older than 5 years of age were followed for 2.5 years. Blood samples were taken every 6 months to measure serological status and infection by ELISA. In individuals with at least two previous infections the risk of new infection was lower compared to a seronegative group (hazard ratio adjusted 0.49, 95% CI 0.24–0.98), adjusted for age and locality. Therefore, individuals who have been exposed two times or more to a DENV infection have a lower risk of re-infection, thus showing the role of cross-immunity and its association with protection.

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Scientific Reports

Título del artículo:

Standardized treatment to improve hypertension control in primary health care: The HEARTS in the Americas Initiative

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) worldwide. Despite the availability of effective antihypertensive medications, the control of hypertension at a global level is dismal, and consequently, the CVD burden continues to increase. In response, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are implementing the HEARTS in the Americas, a community-based program that focuses on increasing hypertension control and CVD secondary prevention through risk factor mitigation. One key pillar is the implementation of a standardized hypertension treatment protocol supported by a small, high-quality formulary. This manuscript describes the methodology used by the HEARTS in the Americas program to implement a population-based standardized hypertension treatment protocol. It is rooted in a seamless transition from existing treatment practices to best practice using pharmacologic protocols built around a core set of ideal antihypertensive medications. In alignment with recent major hypertension guidelines, the HEARTS in the Americas protocols call for the rapid control of blood pressure, through the use of two antihypertensive medications, preferably in the form of a single pill, fixed-dose combination, in the initial treatment of hypertension. To date, the HEARTS in the Americas program has seen the improvement in antihypertensive medication formularies and the establishment of pharmacologic treatment protocols tailored to individual participating countries. This has translated to significant increases in hypertension control rates post-program implementation in these jurisdictions. Thus, the HEARTS in the Americas program could serve as a model, for not only the Americas Region but globally, and ultimately decrease the burden of CVD.

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Journal of Clinical Hypertension

Título del artículo:

Amidated Cellulose Nanofibrils as Demulsifying Agents for a Natural Water-in-Heavy-Crude-Oil Emulsion

The presence of emulsified water in heavy crude oils invariably causes processing problems and financial costs associated with an increased energy input required to handle highly viscous fluids. Thus, physical or chemical separation methods are usually applied to dehydrate crude oils before processing. Dehydration chemicals or demulsifiers are among the most widely used chemical strategies to rid heavy crude oil from water. In this work, we explore the use of amidated cellulose nanofibrils as dehydrating agents for a water-in-heavy-crude-oil emulsion. Using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as raw material, we extracted oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (1.25 mmol COOH/g cellulose) via ultrasound-assisted TEMPO oxidation. TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNs) were rendered hydrophobic through the coupling with dodecyl- and octadecylamine through one-pot amidation reactions. The introduction of C12 and C18 alkyl moieties on the cellulose surface was enough to promote the dispersion of the materials in toluene and increase the water contact angle (CA) from 17° for TOCN to 61° and 67° for TOCN-AMDC12 and TOCN-AMDC18, respectively. HLB values of 9.6 and 9.2 for TOCN-AMDC12 and TOCN-AMDC18 are characteristic of dehydrating agents for w/o emulsions. Thus, the materials were tested as demulsifying agents for the disruption of a natural water-in-heavy-crude-oil emulsion with a water content of 55%. Conventional tests (BSW, bottle test) showed the ability of TOCN-AMDC12 and TOCN-AMDC18 to effectively dehydrate the emulsions, with a water recovery up to 74%, when used at 1500 ppm in toluene as the carrier fluid. Optical microscopy and rheological analysis were performed before and after the nanofluids\' application to determine the viscosity profile of the emulsion and to observe the types and sizes of water droplets in the oil phase after dehydration.

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Energy and Fuels

Título del artículo:

Availability and affordability of medicines and cardiovascular outcomes in 21 high-income, middle-income and low-income countries

Objectives We aimed to examine the relationship between access to medicine for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) among people at high risk of CVD in high-income countries (HICs), upper and lower middle-income countries (UMICs, LMICs) and low-income countries (LICs) participating in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. Methods We defined high CVD risk as the presence of any of the following: hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, smoker, diabetes or age >55 years. Availability and affordability of blood pressure lowering drugs, antiplatelets and statins were obtained from pharmacies. Participants were categorised: group 1-all three drug types were available and affordable, group 2-all three drugs were available but not affordable and group 3-all three drugs were not available. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models with nested clustering at country and community levels, adjusting for comorbidities, sociodemographic and economic factors. Results Of 163 466 participants, there were 93 200 with high CVD risk from 21 countries (mean age 54.7, 49% female). Of these, 44.9% were from group 1, 29.4% from group 2 and 25.7% from group 3. Compared with participants from group 1, the risk of MACEs was higher among participants in group 2 (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.31), and among participants from group 3 (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.50). Conclusion Lower availability and affordability of essential CVD medicines were associated with higher risk of MACEs and mortality. Improving access to CVD medicines should be a key part of the strategy to lower CVD globally.

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BMJ Global Health

Título del artículo:

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema after intoxication with amlodipine

BACKGROUND: Dihydropyridines are a group of calcium channel antagonist drugs used in the management of high blood pressure, angina pectoris and cardiac arrhythmias. Their adverse reactions are infrequent, acute noncardiogenic lung edema is one of them. It is caused by various disorders that trigger an increase in the permeability of the alveolar capillary membrane. CLINICAL CASE: A 16-year-old male, who, 8 hours after taking six tablets of amlodipine, presented persistent chest pain associated with dyspnea. In his hospital stay, hypoxemia marked with signs of edema and pulmonary congestion was evidenced, thus, diuretic therapy was initiated, and vasopressor support required. It was considered a picture of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema related to amlodipine intoxication with good response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In many occasions, distinguishing what type of acute lung edema the patient has can be complex; however, the possibility of ingesting medications should not be ruled out, as in the reported case.

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Medicina Interna de Mexico

Título del artículo:

Availability of personal protective equipment and diagnostic and treatment facilities for healthcare workers involved in COVID-19 care: A cross-sectional study in Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador

Many affected counties have had experienced a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to investigate the needs of healthcare professionals and the technical difficulties faced by them during the initial outbreak. A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among the healthcare workforce in the most populous cities from three Latin American countries in April 2020. In total, 1,082 participants were included. Of these, 534 (49.4%), 263 (24.3%), and 114 (10.5%) were physicians, nurses, and other professionals, respectively. At least 70% of participants reported a lack of PPE. The most common shortages were shortages in gown coverall suits (643, 59.4%), N95 masks (600, 55.5%), and face shields (569, 52.6%). Professionals who performed procedures that generated aerosols reported shortages more frequently (p<0.05). Professionals working in the emergency department and primary care units reported more shortages than those working in intensive care units and hospital-based wards (p<0.001). Up to 556 (51.4%) participants reported the lack of sufficient knowledge about using PPE. Professionals working in public institutions felt less prepared, received less training, and had no protocols compared with their peers in working private institutions (p<0.001). Although the study sample corresponded to different hospital centers in different cities from the participating countries, sampling was non-random. Healthcare professionals in Latin America may face more difficulties than those from other countries, with 7 out of 10 professionals reporting that they did not have the necessary resources to care for patients with COVID-19. Technical and logistical difficulties should be addressed in the event of a future outbreak, as they have a negative impact on healthcare workers.

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PLoS ONE

Título del artículo:

White rice intake and incident diabetes: A study of 132,373 participants in 21 countries

OBJECTIVE Previous prospective studies on the association of white rice intake with incident diabetes have shown contradictory results but were conducted in single countries and predominantly in Asia. We report on the association of white rice with risk of diabetes in the multinational Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Data on 132,373 individuals aged 35–70 years from 21 countries were analyzed. White rice consumption (cooked) was categorized as <150, ≥150 to <300, ≥300 to <450, and ≥450 g/day, based on one cup of cooked rice 5 150 g. The primary outcome was incident diabetes. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using a multivariable Cox frailty model. RESULTS During a mean follow-up period of 9.5 years, 6,129 individuals without baseline diabetes developed incident diabetes. In the overall cohort, higher intake of white rice (≥450 g/day compared with <150 g/day) was associated with increased risk of diabetes (HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.02–1.40; P for trend 5 0.003). However, the highest risk was seen in South Asia (HR 1.61; 95% CI 1.13–2.30; P for trend 5 0.02), followed by other regions of the world (which included South East Asia, Middle East, South America, North America, Europe, and Africa) (HR 1.41; 95% CI 1.08–1.86; P for trend 5 0.01), while in China there was no significant association (HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.77–1.40; P for trend 5 0.38). CONCLUSIONS Higher consumption of white rice is associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes with the strongest association being observed in South Asia, while in other regions, a modest, nonsignificant association was seen.

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Diabetes Care

Título del artículo:

Compressive evaluation of mansory bricks produced with industrial byproduct aggregates

This study evaluates the effect upon the compressive strength of ceramic masonry bricks when industrial byproducts known as soot are added. The research includes an analysis of the granulometric properties of the constituent components, performed manually with ASTM C136-01 screens to determine particle size using apertures sized from large to small; an analysis by XRD of the mineralogical phases present; a compressive strength analysis performed using standard compression testing machinery; and a water absorption measurement calculated according to Colombian Technical Standard: 4017:2015—Methods for the Sampling and Testing of Masonry Elements and other Clay Products. Five trials were performed using different mixtures of clay and soot, at substitution rates of 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%. These mixtures were prepared under identical conditions in order to ensure validity of the resulting comparisons. The results showed that bricks with 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% added soot demonstrated superior structural strength compared to conventional units. Bricks incorporating 60% soot, however, were found to have lower strength and high porosity.

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International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology

Título del artículo:

Managing the return to sport of the elite footballer following semimembranosus reconstruction

Hamstring strains are the most common injury in elite football and typically occur during high-speed running. Despite its important contribution to power production in the late swing phase, injury to the semimembranosus (SM) is less common than to the biceps femoris, but may involve the free tendon and depending on the degree of retraction, warrant surgical repair. Few case reports detail clinical reasoning, supported by objective data during rehabilitation in elite footballers, and none have described the return to sport (RTS) process following this type of hamstring injury. In this article, we outline the management and RTS of an English Premier League (EPL) footballer who suffered a high-grade SM proximal tendon tear during training. Due to the degree of retraction of the free tendon, the player underwent surgical reconstruction at the recommendation of an orthopaedic surgeon. Early physiotherapy care, nutritional support, on-and off-pitch injury-specific reconditioning and global athletic development are outlined, alongside strength and power diagnostic and global positioning systems data, assessment of pain, player feedback and MRI informed clinical reasoning and shared decision-making during the RTS process. 18 weeks post-surgery the player returned to team training, transferring to a new club 3 weeks later. 2.5 years post RTS, the player remains free of re-injury playing regularly in the EPL.

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BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine

Título del artículo:

Lean manufacturing: A systematic review in the food industry

This paper describes the study trends of lean manufacturing at a national and international level through a systematic review of the scientific literature between 2015 and 2019. A total of 3776 research articles were retrieved from the main bibliographic databases. Metadata and VOSviewer were used to perform a bibliometric cluster analysis by topic and year. The results indicated that the database with the largest number of publications was Science Research. In addition, 36% of all the research articles retrieved were from Asian countries and they addressed efficiency of production processes and productivity. The present article provided an analysis of the implementation of the lean manufacturing philosophy and a summary of the tools used in companies in the food sector to generate inputs that promote productivity. A general framework is proposed that summarizes the trends in lean manufacturing from the literature review performed here.

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Informacion Tecnologica

Título del artículo:

Determining factors of competitiveness and organizational integration: Scoping review

This work presents a systematic review of the literature related to the competitiveness and organizational integration from 2013 to 2019. This is done with information reported by the main bibliographic databases. The results show records related to competitiveness and organizational integration in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. There is evidence of an increase in the number of articles published during the period considered in the study. There are 23 competitiveness factors identified including the structure and cooperation between companies, marketing management, and the implementation of innovative technology in production. In addition, there are 17 factors that favor organizational integration such as the governance of strategic relationships between companies, intra-business coordination, and the implementation of quality management systems. This scoping review article contributes to the generation of organizational capacities for competitiveness development and process integration.

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Informacion Tecnologica

Título del artículo:

A New Homoisoflavonoid from Caesalpinia bahamensis

Homoisoflavonoids constitute a rare subclass of flavonoids restricted to only some plant species, including members of the genus Caesalpinia. This research focused on homoisoflavonoids from Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam., Fabaceae, a medicinal plant used in Cuban traditional medicine and known as “brasilete.” An hydroalcoholic extract was prepared from the stem, followed by liquid-liquid partition and further chromatographic separations, resulting in the isolation and structure elucidation by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry of an undescribed 3-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)chromane-4,7-diol, for which the name metasappanin was proposed. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

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Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia

Título del artículo:

Household and personal air pollution exposure measurements from 120 communities in eight countries: results from the PURE-AIR study

Background: Approximately 2·8 billion people are exposed to household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels. Few monitoring studies have systematically measured health-damaging air pollutant (ie, fine particulate matter [PM2·5] and black carbon) concentrations from a wide range of cooking fuels across diverse populations. This multinational study aimed to assess the magnitude of kitchen concentrations and personal exposures to PM2·5 and black carbon in rural communities with a wide range of cooking environments. Methods: As part of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) cohort, the PURE-AIR study was done in 120 rural communities in eight countries (Bangladesh, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe). Data were collected from 2541 households and from 998 individuals (442 men and 556 women). Gravimetric (or filter-based) 48 h kitchen and personal PM2·5 measurements were collected. Light absorbance (10−5m−1) of the PM2·5 filters, a proxy for black carbon concentrations, was calculated via an image-based reflectance method. Surveys of household characteristics and cooking patterns were collected before and after the 48 h monitoring period. Findings: Monitoring of household air pollution for the PURE-AIR study was done from June, 2017, to September, 2019. A mean PM2·5 kitchen concentration gradient emerged across primary cooking fuels: gas (45 μg/m3 [95% CI 43–48]), electricity (53 μg/m3 [47–60]), coal (68 μg/m3 [61–77]), charcoal (92 μg/m3 [58–146]), agricultural or crop waste (106 μg/m3 [91–125]), wood (109 μg/m3 [102–118]), animal dung (224 μg/m3 [197–254]), and shrubs or grass (276 μg/m3 [223–342]). Among households cooking primarily with wood, average PM2·5 concentrations varied ten-fold (range: 40–380 μg/m3). Fuel stacking was prevalent (981 [39%] of 2541 households); using wood as a primary cooking fuel with clean secondary cooking fuels (eg, gas) was associated with 50% lower PM2·5 and black carbon concentrations than using only wood as a primary cooking fuel. Similar average PM2·5 personal exposures between women (67 μg/m3 [95% CI 62–72]) and men (62 [58–67]) were observed. Nearly equivalent average personal exposure to kitchen exposure ratios were observed for PM2·5 (0·79 [95% 0·71–0·88] for men and 0·82 [0·74–0·91] for women) and black carbon (0·64 [0·45–0·92] for men and 0·68 [0·46–1·02] for women). Interpretation: Using clean primary fuels substantially lowers kitchen PM2·5 concentrations. Importantly, average kitchen and personal PM2·5 measurements for all primary fuel types exceeded WHO\'s Interim Target-1 (35 μg/m3 annual average), highlighting the need for comprehensive pollution mitigation strategies. Funding: Canadian Institutes for Health Research, National Institutes of Health.

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The Lancet Planetary Health

Título del artículo:

Pharmacognostic, chemical and mucolytic activity study of malva pseudolavatera webb & berthel. And malva sylvestris l. (malvaceae) leaf extracts, grown in ecuador

Among the cultivated and/or native plant species of Ecuador, are those belonging to Malvaceae. Of these, the most traditionally used are Malva pseudolavatera Webb & Berthel. and Malva sylvestris L., which are grown and sold in indigenous markets. Various articles have been published for M. sylvestris about its chemical composition and pharmacological properties; however, M. pseudolavatera lacks references and is the most commercialized in Ecuador. Therefore, this work sets the following objective: To carry out a comparative study of the pharmacognostic, chemical and mucolytic activity of the species M. pseudolavatera and M. sylvestris. The species studied were collected in the province of Chimborazo. Extracts were obtained with different solvents: water, hexane and 80% ethanol. The aqueous extract was used to determine the mucolytic activity; the hexane and alcoholic extracts were analyzed by the coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system. It was found that M. pseudolavatera has a very similar chemical composition to M. sylvestris; The presence of fatty acids, di and triterpenoids, phytosterols and abundant amino acids was detected. Both species showed an important mucolytic effect, the activity of M. pseudolavatera being higher than the highest doses tested. These studies provide scientific data that allow demonstrating the high potentiality of extracts from the leaves of two Malva species as sources of plant material for possible research and development of phytotherapeutic products with mucolytic and gastroprotective activity in correspondence with their uses in traditional Ecuadorian herbal medicine.

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Biodiversitas

Título del artículo:

Association of Symptoms of Depression with Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries

Importance: Depression is associated with incidence of and premature death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer in high-income countries, but it is not known whether this is true in low- A nd middle-income countries and in urban areas, where most people with depression now live. Objective: To identify any associations between depressive symptoms and incident CVD and all-cause mortality in countries at different levels of economic development and in urban and rural areas. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, population-based cohort study was conducted between January 2005 and June 2019 (median follow-up, 9.3 years) and included 370 urban and 314 rural communities from 21 economically diverse countries on 5 continents. Eligible participants aged 35 to 70 years were enrolled. Analysis began February 2018 and ended September 2019. Exposures: Four or more self-reported depressive symptoms from the Short-Form Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident CVD, all-cause mortality, and a combined measure of either incident CVD or all-cause mortality. Results: Of 145862 participants, 61235 (58%) were male and the mean (SD) age was 50.05 (9.7) years. Of those, 15983 (11%) reported 4 or more depressive symptoms at baseline. Depression was associated with incident CVD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.24), all-cause mortality (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.25), the combined CVD/mortality outcome (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.11-1.24), myocardial infarction (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.10-1.37), and noncardiovascular death (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13-1.31) in multivariable models. The risk of the combined outcome increased progressively with number of symptoms, being highest in those with 7 symptoms (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.12-1.37) and lowest with 1 symptom (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.92-1.19; P for trend <.001). The associations between having 4 or more depressive symptoms and the combined outcome were similar in 7 different geographical regions and in countries at all economic levels but were stronger in urban (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.13-1.34) compared with rural (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.19) communities (P for interaction =.001) and in men (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.13-1.38) compared with women (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.06-1.23; P for interaction <.001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this large, population-based cohort study, adults with depressive symptoms were associated with having increased risk of incident CVD and mortality in economically diverse settings, especially in urban areas. Improving understanding and awareness of these physical health risks should be prioritized as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases worldwide..

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JAMA Psychiatry

Título del artículo:

Copper Recovery from PCBs by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans: Toxicity of Bioleached Metals on Biological Activity

Abstract: The suitability and limits of bioleaching for copper recovery from printed circuits boards has been stated with new strategies and methodologies. The process has been tested using a continuous column reactor simulating those conditions found at industrial scale. The new strategy developed improved the kinetic reaction rate and overcomes transport limitations for the leaching solution, thus improving copper recoveries from 50 to 80% in only 6 h. This drastically reduced the time required by previous studies to achieve the same copper recovery. Inhibition effects of the biological process due to the release of metals from e-waste has been identified by means of microrespirometric monitoring tests. This systematic study allowed identifying that nickel, copper and aluminum impact the microorganisms’ activity, inactivating them in specific scenarios (depending on the concentration and the time exposed). Including the time exposure as variable, this work demonstrated that metal concentrations that have been reported as non-toxic to microorganisms, resulted toxic when the required leaching contact time was considered. Besides high iron concentrations also produce inhibitory effect on the microorganisms’ growth, despite being the energy source for their metabolism. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

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Waste and Biomass Valorization

Título del artículo:

Facing cardiovascular risk in Ibero-America

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Revista Espanola de Cardiologia

Título del artículo:

Hydrogen production from palm kernel shell: Kinetic modeling and simulation

The hydrogen production process from palm kernel shell (PKS) is modeled and simulated by a steady-state gasification system using Aspen PLUS®. The kinetic parameters of the gasification are determined by employing thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) using two gasifying agents (CO2 and steam) and applying three semi-empirical kinetic models to interpret the experimental results (linear model, grain model, and volumetric model). The process was subjected to different temperatures (750–950 °C) and different compositions of the steam/biomass ratio (S/B) (0–2.5). It is obtained that the linear model and the grain model have the best R2 with the gasification results of the PKS with steam (0.966) and CO2 (0.965), respectively. The steam reaction kinetic parameters obtained were E=125.79KJ/mol and A=26.23s−1, and for the reaction with CO2, they were E=99.87KJ/mol andA=6.3s−1. The production yield of H2 (109 g H2/PKS kg) is reached at the highest temperature (950 °C) and the lowest S/B ratio (0). It is concluded that the model can predict with greater precision the hydrogen composition in the syngas, with a 0.135 mean square error, compared to other authors that present a 0.282 mean square error.

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International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Título del artículo:

Salt and cardiovascular disease: Insufficient evidence to recommend low sodium intake

Several blood pressure guidelines recommend low sodium intake (<2.3 g/day, 100 mmol, 5.8 g/day of salt) for the entire population, on the premise that reductions in sodium intake, irrespective of the levels, will lower blood pressure, and, in turn, reduce cardiovascular disease occurrence. These guidelines have been developed without effective interventions to achieve sustained low sodium intake in free-living individuals, without a feasible method to estimate sodium intake reliably in individuals, and without high-quality evidence that low sodium intake reduces cardiovascular events (compared with moderate intake). In this review, we examine whether the recommendation for low sodium intake, reached by current guideline panels, is supported by robust evidence. Our review provides a counterpoint to the current recommendation for low sodium intake and suggests that a specific low sodium intake target (e.g. <2.3 g/day) for individuals may be unfeasible, of uncertain effect on other dietary factors and of unproven effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular disease. We contend that current evidence, despite methodological limitations, suggests that most of the world\'s population consume a moderate range of dietary sodium (2.3-4.6g/day; 1-2 teaspoons of salt) that is not associated with increased cardiovascular risk, and that the risk of cardiovascular disease increases when sodium intakes exceed 5 g/day. While current evidence has limitations, and there are differences of opinion in interpretation of existing evidence, it is reasonable, based upon observational studies, to suggest a population-level mean target of <5 g/day in populations with mean sodium intake of >5 g/day, while awaiting the results of large randomized controlled trials of sodium reduction on incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality.

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European Heart Journal

Título del artículo:

Stigma-discrimination: Significant collateral damage of COVID-19

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Indian Journal of Psychiatry

Título del artículo:

Ketogenic diets as treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus

During the last decades, several interventions for the management of overweight and obesity have been proposed. Among diets, the first studies focused on the effect of water only and total fasting diets with or without proteins. Unfortunately, they were found to be associated with adverse events which lead to the abandon of these strategies. Interestingly, despite the radical approach, total fasting was effective and generally well tolerated. A strict connection between protein-calorie malnutrition and increased in morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients was found at that time. Then, the seminal works of Blackburn and his collaborators lead to the introduction of the protein-sparing modified fast. Encouraged by the early results using this intervention, diets evolved to the current very-low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKD). In the present review, results of studies on the VLCKDs are presented and discussed, with a particular reference to the protocolled VLCKD. Also, a recent proposal on the nomenclature on the ketogenic diets is reported. Available evidence suggests VLCKDs to be effective in achieving a rapid and significant weight loss by means of an easily reversible intervention which could be repeated, if needed. Muscle mass and strength are preserved, resting metabolic rate is not impaired, hunger, appetite and mood are not worsened. Symptoms and abnormal laboratory findings can be there, but they have generally been reported as of mild intensity and transient. Preliminary studies suggest VLCKDs to be a potential game-changer in the management of type 2 diabetes too. Therefore, VLCKDs should be considered as an excellent initial step in properly selected and motivated patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes, to be delivered as a part of a multicomponent strategy and under strict medical supervision.

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Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

Título del artículo:

Low levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Andean communities of Ecuador

The major burden of hypertension (HTN) occurs in low-middle-income countries (LMIC) and it is the main modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Few population studies on HTN prevalence have been carried out in Ecuador where there is limited information regarding its prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of HTN and its association with socio-economic, nutritional, and lifestyle habits in urban and rural Andean communities of Pichincha province in Ecuador. The authors studied 2020 individuals aged 35-70 years (mean age 50.8 years, 72% women), included in the Ecuadorian cohort of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study, from February to December 2018. The hypertension prevalence (\'140/90 mmHg) was 27% and was greater in urban than in rural communities, more common in men, in individuals older than 50 years of age, in people with low monthly income and low level of education. Higher prevalence was also observed in subjects with obesity, and among former smokers and those who consumed alcohol. Only 49% of those with HTN were aware of their condition, 40% were using antihypertensive medications, and 19% had their blood pressure under control (\'140/90 mmHg). These results showed low levels of awareness, treatment, and control of HTN in the Andean region of Ecuador, suggesting the urgent necessity of implementing programs to improve the diagnosis and management of HTN.

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Journal of Clinical Hypertension

Título del artículo:

Position statement of the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (IASC) on the current guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension 2017–2020

Objectives: As an Inter-American Society we are convinced of the need to standardize the steps in which we diagnose, evaluate, treat and control hypertension, establishing guidelines and rules that should be adopted in all countries of Latin America, aimed at standardizing management and control of CV risk in order to achieve a substantial decrease in CV events. Methods: In the last four years important international guidelines for the diagnosis, management, treatment and control of arterial hypertension have been published. In America, mostly in mid- and low-income countries, hypertension is a major problem of public health, being the most important cardiovascular risk factor due to its great population impact. Therefore, it is crucial to dedicate all the possible efforts to increase substantially the number of hypertensive patients diagnosed in a given area, and to improve the percentage of controlled patients. This is a major necessity in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality for CVD in the Latin American region, although no guidelines takes the Latin American populations into account, and much less standardizes their diagnosis and management. Conclusions: The Inter-American Society of Cardiology suggest the use of the blood pressure classification of the Latin American Society of Hypertension (LASH) and recommends the use of the SCORE System to stratify the global CV risk because this system has the capability to adapt the global risk by means of a correcting factor based on the ethnicity of the different native populations in America.

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International Journal of Cardiology: Hypertension

Título del artículo:

Comparative gastroprotective activity of Malva pseudolavatera webb & Berthel and Malva sylvestris L. Grown in Ecuador

Species of the genus Malva (Malva pseudolavatera and Malva sylvestris), introduced in Ecuador, are widely used traditionally. However, unlike the species M. sylvestris, for M. pseudolavatera there is no information on its composition and properties. The species were collected in the province of Chimborazo Ecuador. Aqueous decoction extracts were made which were lyophilized to obtain dry extracts. Gastroprotective activity was studied in two models of ulcers induced by ethanol and NSAIDs (ASA). Male mice with average weights of 30 ± 2 g were used, which were divided into 13 groups of 5 mice, for each of the models. The treatments of aqueous extracts of M. pseudolavatera and M. sylvestris were administered orally, for seven days, in doses of 1000, 500, 250, 125 and 75 mg / Kg of mouse weight respectively. The degree of gastric protection was compared between the two species studied and it was evidenced that at the dose of 1000 mg / kg, M. pseudolavatera presented greater gastric protection than M. sylvestris, which was met at lower doses for the two models used. The inhibition percentages of gastric ulcers showed that the positive control treated with Sucralfate reached 87.5% inhibition, while the groups treated with the extracts of M. pseudolavatera and M. sylvestris at doses of 1000 mg / Kg reached 77 and 72%. inhibition respectively in the induction model alcohol and 84 and 78% inhibition respectively in the induction model NSAID.

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Pharmacologyonline