Título del artículo:

Simulation of tar reduction alternatives in the coffee stems gasification process

This work developed a simulation model able to compare three different secondary methods of tar retention that assess the energy consumption, investments and tar concentration of each alternative to clean the syngas produced in the gasification of coffee stems. The alternatives were the installation of a car filter (FC), a heat exchanger (IC) and activated carbon filtering media (FCA). The experiments were carried out in the Power Pallet GEK 20 kW downstream Gasifier and runs of 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hours of operation. The tar concentration was measured via VOC\'s direct detection equipment and showed values of 23, 18.7, y 222.3ppm for IC, FC and FCA respectively. Estimation errors obtained for the model developed in Aspen Plus ® software for tar concentration were 16.75%, 14.63% and 0.02% for normal operation, FC and IC respectively. An Economic evaluation reported a value of 0.43, 4.06, 0.45 and 4.09$/kw produced for normal operation, FC, IC and FCA respectively. Finally, the analysis of the internal combustion engine thermal efficiency exposed that IC and FC potentially increase the total energy production in 440kwh per year compared to normal operation.

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Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Título del artículo:

Use of an embedded system with wifi technology for domotic control of conventional environments

The rise of emerging technologies and the emergence of open and free hardware and software trends have allowed the emergence of new embedded system options such as the Nodemcu card based on the esp8266 microcontroller, among many others, which at very low cost allows implement an On/Off control or domotic control for an environment or location that improves its comfort and energy saving conditions as main objectives. Understanding home automation as the system capable of automating a home or building of any kind, which is capable of providing energy management, security, welfare, maintenance and communication services, and which can be integrated by means of wireless networks or Wi-Fi technology, to give a control that provides certain ubiquity, from inside and outside the place through the use of an application or app, provides a huge opportunity to take advantage of current technology adapted to any type of environment or space. This use could be defined as the integration of technology in the intelligent design of a closed area, including conventional training environments or classrooms, which unlike the rest of other locations or modern properties, do not enjoy the same advances with which they enjoy new establishments of offices, banks and hotels that make our daily activities more pleasant. This research will use the quasi-experimental method since with the collaboration of experts through the network and the state of the art consulted, small experiments or tests have been developed using low-cost technology modules, thus checking the functioning of different connections and configurations, which generates the sending and receiving of data, which allows us to give or not advance to the analysis, programming and revision of the behavior of the occupation of an environment, making the focus towards a short-term future of the research quantitative.

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Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Título del artículo:

Assessing the impact of climate change on agriculture in Norte de Santander, Colombia

Agriculture in the Andean region of Colombia is vulnerable to climate change and warrants the evaluation of its impact on the small agricultural family home to the mountain. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the economic, environmental and social impact of climate change on the agricultural sector of the Bochalema municipality, Norte de Santander Department, using the methodology of the Integrated Relevant Criteria to identify and assess impact in order to provide essential input to support the decisions of local development agencies. This investigation reveals high fragility in the sector and underinvestment in public policies, strategies, plans and programs. Keywords: Agriculture, climate change, assessment, impacts. JEL classification: Q51, Q54.

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Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Título del artículo:

Scientific visibility of colombian universities in researchGate

The paper aims to compare the scientific visibility of Colombian universities based on the ResearchGate indicator (RGScore). The article analyzes the 150 Colombian universities that have a ResearchGate profile of the 305 registered in the National Information System of Higher Education (SNIES). The top 10 universities with the best positions of RGScore are: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad de Los Andes, Universidad del Valle, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Universidad del Norte, Universidad de Cartagena, Universidad de la Sabana y Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. These are institutions accredited in High Quality by the Colombian government. Additionally, there is a weak positive correlation between the number of Groups of Research, Technological Development and Innovation classified and recognized by Colciencias per regions and average RGScore of the Universities in each Colombian Department.

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Formacion Universitaria

Título del artículo:

Production of xylitol from non-detoxified acid hydrolizates from sorghum straw by debaryomyces hansenii

The industrial production of xylitol is carried out with the chemical hydrogenation of D-xylose and it is a costly process. An alternative procedure is the fermentation of lignocellulosic residues with yeasts such as Debaryomyces hansenii (Zopf) Lodder and Kreger-van Rij. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the extraction of xylitol from sorghum straw, in detoxified and non-detoxified media. White sorghum straw [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.], variety RB-Paloma, was hydrolyzed with H2SO4 at 2, 4 and 6 %; solid liquid ratio 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10; all treatments at 120 °C for 80 min. Those hydrolyzed were neutralized and used to evaluate the production of xylitol; culture media contained 30, 40 or 50 g L-1 xylose were inoculated with D. hansenii and incubated at 30 and 35 °C, 150 and 200 RPM for 96 h. In addition, the data were analyzed with ANDEVA and means tests (p ≤ 0.05). The maximum concentration of xylitol in the detoxified media was 28.8 g L-1 (40 g xylose, 35 °C, 200 rpm), and in non-detoxified, the maximum found was 29.23 g L-1 (30 g xylose, 35 °C, 150 rpm). The straw evaluated could be used to obtain xylose with a potential use in media for fermentation, and results also suggest that D. hansenii can metabolize xylose in the presence of acetic acid and furfural.

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Agrociencia

Título del artículo:

The International Polycap Study-3 (TIPS-3): Design, baseline characteristics and challenges in conduct

Background: It is hypothesized that in individuals without clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD), but at increased CVD risk, a 50% to 60% reduction in CVD risk could be achieved using fixed dose combination (FDC) therapy (usually comprised of multiple blood-pressure agents and a statin [with or without aspirin]) in a single “polypill”. However, the impact of a polypill in preventing clinical CV events has not been evaluated in a large randomized controlled trial. Methods: TIPS-3 is a 2x2x2 factorial randomized controlled trial that will examine the effect of a FDC polypill on major CV outcomes in a primary prevention population. This study aims to determine whether the Polycap (comprised of atenolol, ramipril, hydrochlorothiazide, and a statin) reduces CV events in persons without a history of CVD, but who are at least at intermediate CVD risk. Additional interventions in the factorial design of the study will compare the effect of (1) aspirin versus placebo on CV events (and cancer), (2) vitamin D versus placebo on the risk of fractures, and (3) the combined effect of aspirin and the Polycap on CV events. Results: The study has randomized 5713 participants across 9 countries. Mean age of the study population is 63.9 years, and 53% are female. Mean INTERHEART risk score is 16.8, which is consistent with a study population at intermediate CVD risk. Conclusion: Results of the TIP-3 study will be key to determining the appropriateness of FDC therapy as a strategy in the global prevention of CVD.

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American Heart Journal

Título del artículo:

Ventricular Volume Dynamics During the Development of Adult Chronic Communicating Hydrocephalus in a Rodent Model

Introduction: The pathophysiology of normal-pressure hydrocephalus and the correlation with its symptomatology is not well understood. Objective: To monitor and evaluate the enlargement patterns of the ventricular system for each ventricle and its correlation with the presenting symptoms. Methods: Bilateral kaolin injection into the subarachnoid space overlying the cranial convexities was done in 18 adult rats. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on an 11.7-T scanner 15, 60, 90, and 120 days after injection. Volumes of the ventricular system were measured for each ventricle and correlated with biweekly behavioral findings. Results: There was a progressive increase in the ventricular volume for the lateral ventricles since day 15 in the kaolin-injected animals. There was a nonsignificant trend in volume growth for the third ventricle, but its enlargement was synchronous with the lateral ventricles. No significant change for the fourth ventricle. No symptoms were detected in the first 60 days. Association was found between the ventricular volume and locomotor changes. In addition, the odds of locomotor symptoms increased by 3% for every additional cubic millimeter of volume in the left (P < 0.001) and right (P = 0.023) ventricles, and for the total magnetic resonance imaging volume by 1% (P = 0.013). Conclusions: Expansion of the lateral ventricles maintained similar proportions over time, accompanied by a synchronous third ventricular expansion with less proportion and a nonsignificant fourth enlargement. Lateral ventricles enlarged most in those animals that were to develop late locomotor deterioration. Further research using this animal model combined with different radiologic imaging techniques, such as diffusion tensor imaging and perfusion studies, is recommended.

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World Neurosurgery

Título del artículo:

Tobacco waste ash: a promising supplementary cementitious material

According to the European Cement Association, CEMBUREAU, in 2015, the global cement production was 4.6 billion tons. Traditional cement production emits approximately 1 ton of CO2 per ton of cement, which represents almost 80% of the total CO2 emissions of concrete and approximately 6% of the world’s emissions. Among supplementary cementitious materials, the use of agro-waste ash emerges due to its reduced CO2 emissions, chloride diffusion, and materials cost, in addition to its greater compressive strength. In Colombia, the disposal of agro-wastes, such as tobacco waste, is an environmental and economic concern. In this study, ash obtained from tobacco waste (TWA) was studied as a sustainable partial replacement for cement in hydraulic concrete. The TWA was reduced to a particle size of less than 75 μm and was characterized by X-ray florescence. A central composite design was used to study the influence of the ash replacement percentage of cement and the water/binder (w/b) ratio on the compressive strength at 28 days. The results show that it is possible to replace 10% of the cement with TWA using a 0.5 w/b ratio and obtain a 51% higher compressive strength than the control mixture at 28 days. Moreover, the experimental results demonstrated an improvement of 86% in the 7-day compressive strength when TWA was used.

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International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Título del artículo:

Association of dairy intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality in 21 countries from five continents (PURE): a prospective cohort study

Background: Dietary guidelines recommend minimising consumption of whole-fat dairy products, as they are a source of saturated fats and presumed to adversely affect blood lipids and increase cardiovascular disease and mortality. Evidence for this contention is sparse and few data for the effects of dairy consumption on health are available from low-income and middle-income countries. Therefore, we aimed to assess the associations between total dairy and specific types of dairy products with mortality and major cardiovascular disease. Methods: The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study is a large multinational cohort study of individuals aged 35–70 years enrolled from 21 countries in five continents. Dietary intakes of dairy products for 136 384 individuals were recorded using country-specific validated food frequency questionnaires. Dairy products comprised milk, yoghurt, and cheese. We further grouped these foods into whole-fat and low-fat dairy. The primary outcome was the composite of mortality or major cardiovascular events (defined as death from cardiovascular causes, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart failure). Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using multivariable Cox frailty models with random intercepts to account for clustering of participants by centre. Findings: Between Jan 1, 2003, and July 14, 2018, we recorded 10 567 composite events (deaths [n=6796] or major cardiovascular events [n=5855]) during the 9·1 years of follow-up. Higher intake of total dairy (>2 servings per day compared with no intake) was associated with a lower risk of the composite outcome (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·75–0·94; ptrend=0·0004), total mortality (0·83, 0·72–0·96; ptrend=0·0052), non-cardiovascular mortality (0·86, 0·72–1·02; ptrend=0·046), cardiovascular mortality (0·77, 0·58–1·01; ptrend=0·029), major cardiovascular disease (0·78, 0·67–0·90; ptrend=0·0001), and stroke (0·66, 0·53–0·82; ptrend=0·0003). No significant association with myocardial infarction was observed (HR 0·89, 95% CI 0·71–1·11; ptrend=0·163). Higher intake (>1 serving vs no intake) of milk (HR 0·90, 95% CI 0·82–0·99; ptrend=0·0529) and yogurt (0·86, 0·75–0·99; ptrend=0·0051) was associated with lower risk of the composite outcome, whereas cheese intake was not significantly associated with the composite outcome (0·88, 0·76–1·02; ptrend=0·1399). Butter intake was low and was not significantly associated with clinical outcomes (HR 1·09, 95% CI 0·90–1·33; ptrend=0·4113). Interpretation: Dairy consumption was associated with lower risk of mortality and major cardiovascular disease events in a diverse multinational cohort. Funding: Full funding sources are listed at the end of the paper (see Acknowledgments).

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The Lancet

Título del artículo:

In Reply to the Letter to the Editor Regarding “Evidences in Neurological Surgery and a Cutting Edge Classification of the Trigeminocardiac Reflex: A Systematic Review”

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World Neurosurgery

Título del artículo:

Factorial structure of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 as a depression screening instrument for university students in Cartagena, Colombia

Previous studies on the factorial structure of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) have yielded divergent results, and there is no consensus on which factorial structure provides a more adequate fit. In Colombia, no precise method to estimate the factorial structure of the PHQ-9 has been used. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factorial structure of the PHQ-9 as a depression screening tool in university students of Colombia from a model of two factors previously studied. The PHQ-9 was applied to 550 health science university students. A factorial confirmatory analysis was carried out using a structural equations model and invariance analysis. The model with one somatic factor and one non-somatic factor, achieved a better fit with invariance by gender. The PHQ-9 used as a depression screening tool used in university students in Cartagena revealed two factors, one somatic and one non-somatic with measurement invariance by gender.

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Psychiatry Research

Título del artículo:

Drying of Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) as a potentialfood product for international commercialization

This paper describes the drying process conditions with the objective to minimise the negative effect over the final quality of the dry Yacon (mallanthus sonchifolius) for international commercialization. Yacon is a tuberous root that grows throughout the Andean mountains in different South American countries. During the last years the interest for this product has been increasing and researchers have collected information that indicates the great potential of yacon. The product cultivation has been promoted over the past few years, due to the health benefits found after consumption. This agricultural product contains FOS (Fructo Oligo Sacarides) of low molecular weight, which is used as alternative sweeteners and, due to the small amount of calories is also attractive and good for overweight and diabetic people. Due to the outstanding importance of its health properties, this studied was carried out to achieve the best parameters of the drying process. For this paper, an experiment was performed considering two factors of the drying process: thickness of the layer (2cm, 4cm and 6cm) and temperature (60°C, 70°C and 80°C), with measurements of the physicochemical properties in fresh, before drying and after the drying process, with three replicates for each combination of levels.

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IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering

Título del artículo:

Toxic activity, molecular modeling and docking simulations of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry11 toxin variants obtained via DNA shuffling

The Cry11 family belongs to a large group of δ-endotoxins that share three distinct structural domains. Among the dipteran-active toxins referred to as three-domain Cry11 toxins, the Cry11Aa protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) has been the most extensively studied. Despite the potential of Bti as an effective biological control agent, the understanding of Cry11 toxins remains incomplete. In this study, five Cry11 variants obtained via DNA shuffling displayed toxic activity against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Three of these Cry11 variants (8, 23, and 79) were characterized via 3D modeling and analysis of docking with ALP1. The relevant mutations in these variants, such as deletions, insertions and point mutations, are discussed in relation to their structural domains, toxic activities and toxin-receptor interactions. Importantly, deletion of the N-terminal segment in domain I was not associated with any change in toxic activity, and domain III exhibited higher sequence variability than domains I and II. Variant 8 exhibited up to 3.78- and 6.09-fold higher toxicity to A. aegypti than Cry11Bb and Cry11Aa, respectively. Importantly, variant 79 showed an α-helix conformation at the C-terminus and formed crystals retaining toxic activity. These findings indicate that five Cry11 variants were preferentially reassembled from the cry11Aa gene during DNA shuffling. The mutations described in loop 2 and loop 3 of domain II provide valuable information regarding the activity of Cry11 toxins against A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus larvae and reveal new insights into the application of directed evolution strategies to study the genetic variability of specific domains in cry11 family genes.

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Frontiers in Microbiology

Título del artículo:

Effect of kinesiotaping on quadriceps strength in healthy subjects

Introduction: The application of kinesiotaping has been commonly used for the treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, it has been recognized its neurostimulatory mechanisms that could increase muscle strength; the evidence shown for this effect is not conclusive though. Objective: To evaluate the effect of Kinesiotaping (KT) with and without tension on the muscular strength and endurance of the quadriceps in healthy subjects. Methods: An experimental study was conducted randomized into two intervention groups, one application of tension KT and one without tension. The strength measurements were performed before and after application of therapeutic tape. Results: No found changes on muscle strength and the endurance of group without tension, however, the strength on group with tension after application of the tape decreased (pre KT: 25 kg / f vs post KT: 23.18 kg/f; p<0,05. Conclusion: KT facilitation technique applied on the quadriceps, it does not increase muscle strength and endurance. This suggests that there should be applied with objectives to improve these capabilities in healthy subjects.

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Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomedicas

Título del artículo:

Innovative culture in companies contractors of the carbon exploitation mines in Colombia

The features and types of innovative culture in contractors of mining companies at Cesar Department, in Colombia is studied and analyzed. The research is of quantitative and descriptive type. The results indicate that the predominant feature in the characteristics of the dominant organization is the conception of the company as an extended family. With respect to the management of personnel, the promotion of teamwork, consensus and participation predominates among companies. Also, the predominant feature of the organizational link, is the conception of the company as a space characterized by loyalty, commitment and mutual trust. On the other hand, in the feature of success criteria, companies promote the development of human resources.

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Informacion Tecnologica

Título del artículo:

Frequency of Neospora caninum in double purpose cattle on herds at the State of Guárico, Venezuela

It was carried out an investigation to determine the frequency of Neospora caninum in double purpose cattle. Blood samples (n= 890) were collected in four age groups: 0-6 mo, 6-12 mo, 12-24 mo and >24 mo. The presence of antibodies was determined by an indirect ELISA kit, and the results were classified as positive and negative. The seroprevalence was 21 % in cattle, and 76.6 % in the herds evaluated. Regarding to the age group, no statistical association was found (P>0.05); however, the risk of being seropositive increased with age, indicating the high probability of horizontal transmission of N. caninum in the herd. There was no statistical association with respect to sex (P>0.05). Regarding reproductive status, a statistical association (P<0.05) was found with respect to abortion. Although all the groups were positive, cows with a history of abortion showed higher seroconversion, indicating that the risk of abortion increased with increasing levels of antibodies against the parasite. From the total positive farms (76.6 %), higher seroconversion (100 %) were observed in those with the highest number of dogs (>7 dogs), and this result indicates that a higher number of dogs, a higher prevalence of N. Caninum, since dogs are the main source of horizontal transmission. It is concluded that there is antigenic circulation of N. caninum associated to abortions in double purpose cattle of the State of Guarico, and that could be controlled improving the sanitary conditions of the herds.

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Revista Mexicana De Ciencias Pecuarias

Título del artículo:

The blood pressure variability and baroreflex sensitivity in healthy participants are not determined by sex or cardiorespiratory fitness

Background: Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) autonomic modulation and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) are important indexes of cardiovascular homeostasis. However, methodological errors are often observed, such as joint analysis of men and women. Another important aspect is that we still do not know whether cardiorespiratory fitness influences these autonomic parameters in healthy individuals. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether sex can affect BRS, autonomic modulation of HR and BP variabilities (HRV and BPV, respectively), as well as the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on these autonomic parameters. Methods: Healthy men and women (N=120) were assigned to groups according to the peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) obtained in the cardiorespiratory test: low cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak: 22-38 ml/kg/min), moderate cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak: 38-48 ml/kg/min), and high cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak >48 ml/kg/min). HRV and BPV evaluations were performed for all groups in the frequency domain by spectral analysis. Spontaneous BRS was assessed using the sequence method. Results: Women presented lower BP values compared with men. HR did not differ between sexes, but showed an inverse relationship with cardiorespiratory performance. The HRV analysis showed greater sympathetic modulation for men and greater vagal modulation for women. Men and women presented similar results for systolic BPV and BRS, and cardiorespiratory performance did not influence any of the autonomic parameters evaluated. Conclusion: Cardiorespiratory fitness does not interfere with HRV and BPV autonomic modulation or BRS. However, the cardiac modulatory balance differs between sexes, with a greater influence of the autonomic vagal component in women and the sympathetic component in men.

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Blood Pressure Monitoring

Título del artículo:

Effect of a very low-calorie ketogenic diet on food and alcohol cravings, physical and sexual activity, sleep disturbances, and quality of life in obese patients

Psychological well-being and hunger and food control are two relevant factors involved in the success of weight-loss therapy in treating obesity. Thus, this study aims to evaluate food and alcohol cravings, physical and sexual activity, sleep, and life quality (QoL) in obese patients following a very low-calorie ketogenic (VLCK) diet, as well as the role of weight lost and ketosis on these parameters. A battery of psychological test was performed in twenty obese patients (12 females, 47.2 ± 10.2 year and BMI of 35.5 ± 4.4) through the course of a 4-month VLCK diet on four subsequent visits: baseline, maximum ketosis, reduced ketosis, and endpoint. Each subject acted as their own control. Relevantly, the dietary-induced changes in body composition (7.7 units of BMI lost, 18 kg of fat mass (1.2 kg of visceral fat mass)) were associated with a statistically significant improvement in food craving scores, physical activity, sleepiness, and female sexual function. Overall, these results also translated in a notable enhancement in QoL of the treated obese patients. Therefore, the rapid and sustained weight and fat mass (FM) loss induced by the VLCK diet is associated with good food control and improvements in the psychological well-being parameters in obese subjects, which could contribute to the long-term success of this therapy.

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Nutrients

Título del artículo:

Physical preparation of the football player with an intramuscular hamstring tendon tear: Clinical perspective with video demonstrations

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British Journal of Sports Medicine

Título del artículo:

Effectiveness of Beauveria bassiana (Baubassil^®) on the common cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus in the Department of Guajira, Colombia

The effectiveness of Baubassil® (Beauveria bassiana) on the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was evaluated. In the in vitro phase, the optimal germination temperature of the fungus was determined by microcultures at 25, 30 and 35 °C and the mortality of ticks. In the field, in a randomized design, 30 cebuine cows; 15 cows were treated with Baubassil® once a week at a 1 × 106 conidia/ml, and a control group was left untreated. It was observed that at temperatures of 25, 30 and 35 °C, germination of the entomopathogen was 97.5, 94.7 and 6.3%, respectively. In animals treated with Baubassil® obtained a corrected effectiveness of 96.8% on ticks in the fifth week of application. The use of Baubassil® would be a valid alternative for controlling the cattle tick under the agroecological conditions of the Dry Caribbean.

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Revista Argentina de Microbiologia

Título del artículo:

Rationale and design of a cluster randomized trial of a multifaceted intervention in people with hypertension: The Heart Outcomes Prevention and Evaluation 4 (HOPE-4) Study

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death throughout the world, with the majority of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Despite clear evidence for the benefits of blood pressure reduction and availability of safe and low-cost medications, most individuals are either unaware of their condition or not adequately treated. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether a community-based, multifaceted intervention package primarily provided by nonphysician health workers can improve long-term cardiovascular risk in people with hypertension by addressing identified barriers at the patient, health care provider, and health system levels. Methods/design: HOPE-4 is a community-based, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial involving 30 communities (1,376 participants) in Colombia and Malaysia. Participants ≥50 years old and with newly diagnosed or poorly controlled hypertension were included. Communities were randomized to usual care or to a multifaceted intervention package that entails (1) detection, treatment, and control of cardiovascular risk factors by nonphysician health workers in the community, who use tablet-based simplified management algorithms, decision support, and counseling programs; (2) free dispensation of combination antihypertensive and cholesterol-lowering medications, supervised by local physicians; and (3) support from a participant-nominated treatment supporter (either a friend or family member). The primary outcome is the change in Framingham Risk Score after 12 months between the intervention and control communities. Secondary outcomes including change in blood pressure, lipid levels, and Interheart Risk Score will be evaluated. Significance: If successful, the study could serve as a model to develop low-cost, effective, and scalable strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in people with hypertension.

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American Heart Journal

Título del artículo:

Evidences in Neurological Surgery and a Cutting Edge Classification of the Trigeminocardiac Reflex: A Systematic Review

Background: The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) is characterized by bradycardia, decrease of mean arterial blood pressure, and sometimes, asystole during surgery. We critically reviewed TCR studies and devised a novel classification scheme for assessing the reflex. Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scielo databases. Eligible studies were extracted based on stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Statistical analyses were used to assess cardiovascular variables. TCR was classified according to morphophysiologic aspects involved with reflex elicitation. Results: A total of 575 patients were included in this study. TCR was found in 8.9% of patients. The reflex was more often triggered by interventions made within the anterior cranial fossa. The maxillary branch (type II in the new classification) was the most prevalent nerve branch found to trigger the TCR. Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were similarly altered (P = 0.06; F = 0.3912809), covaried with age (P = 0.012; F = 9.302), and inversely correlated to each other (r = −0.27). Conclusions: TCR is a critical cardiovascular phenomenon that must be quickly identified and efficiently classified and should trigger vigilance. Prompt therapeutic measures during neurosurgical procedures should be carefully addressed to avoid unwanted complications. Accurate categorization using the new classification scheme will help to improve understanding and guide the management of TCR in the perioperative period.

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World Neurosurgery

Título del artículo:

Strength-endurance training reduces the hamstrings strength decline following simulated football competition in female players

Hamstring strains are the most common injury in multiple sprint sports, with inadequate eccentric hamstring strength and fatigue identified as important risk factors. Resistance training interventions aimed at reducing injury risk typically focus on the development of maximum strength, while little is known about the impact of training on hamstring fatigue resistance. The present study compared the effects of strength endurance (SE) with a strength intervention (S) on the eccentric hamstring strength decline induced by a simulated soccer match. Twenty-one female soccer players were randomly assigned to a S group (n = 10) or a SE group (n = 11). Hamstrings and quadriceps isokinetic concentric and eccentric peak torque (PT) were assessed at 120°.s-1 and hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio (HEcc:QCon) calculated, pre- and immediately post a 90-min simulated match (BEAST90). This was repeated following a 7-week intervention of either three to five sets of 6RM leg curl and stiff-leg deadlift with 3-min inter-set rest (S), or the same exercises performed using three sets of 12-20 RM with 45-90 s inter-set rest (SE). At baseline, the simulated match led to significant declines in hamstrings eccentric peak torque (EccPT) in both groups in both dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) legs [SE: (D: -15.5, ND: -15.6%), P = 0.001 to 0.016; S: (D: -12.3%, ND: -15.5%), P = 0.001 to 0.018]. After the 7-week intervention, we observed a group*intervention*match interaction such that there was no significant decline in EccPT in the SE group following the simulated match (D: 5.3%, ND: 2.0%), but there remained significant declines in the S group (D: -14.2%, ND: -15.5%, P = 0.018-0.001). Similarly, in the SE group, there was a significant decrease in the HEcc:QCon in D before (-14.2%, P = 0.007), but not after the training intervention, whereas declines were observed in the S group both at baseline, and following the intervention (D: -13.9%, ND: -15.6%, P = 0.045). These results demonstrate that SE training can reduce the magnitude of the EccPT decline observed during soccer competition. As inadequate eccentric strength and fatigue are both risk factors for hamstring injury, SE training should be considered along with the development of peak eccentric strength, as a component of programs aimed at reducing injury risk in multiple-sprint sports.

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Frontiers in Physiology

Título del artículo:

Development of antibacterial and antifungal triazole chromium(III) and cobalt(II) complexes: Synthesis and biological activity evaluations

In this work, six complexes (2-7) of Cr(III) and Co(II) transition metals with triazole ligands were synthesized and characterized. In addition, a new ligand, 3,5-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)toluene (1), was synthesized and full characterized. The complexes were obtained as air-stable solids and characterized by melting point, electrical conductivity, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman, infrared and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy. The analyses and spectral data showed that complexes 3-7 had 1:1 (M:L) stoichiometries and octahedral geometries, while 2 had a 1:2 (M:L) ratio, which was supported by DFT calculations. The complexes and their respective ligands were evaluated against bacterial and fungal strains with clinical relevance. All the complexes showed higher antibacterial and antifungal activities than the free ligands. The complexes were more active against fungi than against bacteria. The activities of the chromium complexes against Candida tropicalis are of great interest, as they showed minimum inhibitory concentration 50 (MIC50) values between 7.8 and 15.6 μg mL-1. Complexes 5 and 6 showed little effect on Vero cells, indicating that they are not cytotoxic. These results can provide an important platform for the design of new compounds with antibacterial and antifungal activities.

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Molecules

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Effects of lipid-lowering and antihypertensive treatments in addition to healthy lifestyles in primary prevention: An analysis of the HOPE-3 trial

Background-It is not clear whether the effects of lipid-lowering or antihypertensive medications are influenced by adherence to healthy lifestyle factors. We assessed the effects of both drug interventions in subgroups by the number of healthy lifestyle factors in participants in the HOPE-3 (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation) trial. Methods and Results-In this primary prevention trial, 4 healthy lifestyle factors (nonsmoking status, physical activity, optimal body weight, and healthy diet) were recorded in 12 521 participants who were at intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and were randomized to rosuvastatin, candesartan/hydrochlorothiazide, their combination, or matched placebos. Median follow-up was 5.6 years. The outcome was a composite of CVD events. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox regression models. Participants with ≥2 healthy lifestyle factors had a lower rate of CVD compared with those with fewer factors (HR: 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73-1.00). Rosuvastatin reduced CVD events in participants with ≥2 healthy lifestyle factors (HR: 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.90) and in participants with <2 factors (HR: 0.79; 95% CI, 0.61-1.01). Consistent results were observed with combination therapy (≥2 factors: HR: 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.97; <2 factors: HR: 0.61; 95% CI, 0.43-0.88). Candesartan/ hydrochlorothiazide tends to reduce CVD only in participants with <2 healthy lifestyle factors (HR: 0.78; 95% CI, 0.61-1.00). Conclusions-Healthy lifestyles are associated with lower CVD. Rosuvastatin alone and combined with candesartan/ hydrochlorothiazide is beneficial regardless of healthy lifestyle status; however, the benefit of antihypertensive treatment appears to be limited to patients with less healthy lifestyles.

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Journal of the American Heart Association