Efficacy and Safety of a Chinese Herbal Medicine Formula (RCM-104) in the Management of Simple Obesity: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective. This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a Chinese herbal medicine formula (RCM-104) for the management of simple obesity. Method. Obese subjects aged between 18 and 60 years were selected for 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to take 4 capsules of either the RCM-104 formula (n = 59) or placebo (n = 58), 3 times daily for 12 weeks. Measures of BW, BMI and WC, HC, WHR and BF composition were assessed at baseline and once every four weeks during the 12 week treatment period. Results. Of the 117 subjects randomised, 92 were included in the ITT analysis. The weight, BMI and BF in RCM-104 group were reduced by 1.5 kg, 0.6 kg/m2 and 0.9% and those in the placebo group were increased by 0.5 kg, 0.2 kg/m2 and 0.1% respectively. There were significant differences in BW and BMI (P < 0.05) between the two groups. Eleven items of the WLQOQ were significantly improved in the RCM-104 group while only 2 items were significantly improved in the placebo group. Adverse events were minor in both groups. Conclusion. RCM-104 treatment appears to be well tolerated and beneficial in reducing BW and BMI in obese subjects

Otimização do controle de emissão de enxofre na atmosfera no processo de coqueificação

Este artigo tem por finalidade contribuir com as solicitações que a UNESCO tem feito ao meio acadêmico e cientifico em intensificar e produzir trabalhos que visem à redução de poluentes atmosféricos que vem elevando o nível de gases do efeito estufa além da chuva ácida. Foca-se em agregar valor ao processo siderúrgico, nas necessidades mais desejadas de todos os envolvidos direta ou indiretamente, quer sejam funcionários do setor siderúrgico, consumidores, moradores próximos ou habitantes deste planeta. O que está modelado de acordo com a necessidade do cliente. O estudo apresenta um modelo matemático implementado num sistema computacional que promoverá simulações de mistura de carvões no processo de coqueificação. Essas simulações visam avaliar, antes da sua execução, a obtenção da mistura menos poluente, levando em conta a exergia, os tipos de carvões, sua disponibilidade e custo, onde o sistema poderá eleger de modo otimizado esta mistura. Para essa escolha foi necessário empregar conhecimentos de carboquímica, matemática, sustentabilidade, exergia e pesquisa operacional (método simplex). O objetivo é auxiliar a rotina diária do especialista e gestores que escolhem os carvões fazendo-o ter agilidade, eficiência exergética e ambiental além de controle dos materiais disponíveis para a tarefa

Anthocyanins in berries of Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz)

[EN] The anthocyanin composition of berries of Maqui [Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz] was determined by HPLC with photodiode array and MS detection. Eight pigments corresponding to the 3-glucosides, 3,5-diglucosides, 3-sambubiosides and 3- sambubioside-5-glucosides of delphinidin and cyanidin were identified, the principal anthocyanin being delphinidin 3- sambubioside-5-glucoside (34% of total anthocyanins). The average total anthocyanin content was 137.6 ± 0.4 mg/100 g of fresh fruit (211.9 ± 0.6 mg/100 g of dry fruit). The relative high anthocyanin content and the important presence of polar polyglycosylated derivatives makes the fruits of A. chilensis an interesting source of anthocyanin extracts for food and pharmaceutical uses

Pedagogia da Alternância e(m) Etnodesenvolvimento: realidade e desafios

No presente artigo se analisa o processo de implantação da Pedagogia da Alternância no Curso de Licenciatura e Bacharelado em Etnodesenvolvimento, sediado no Campus de Altamira da Universidade Federal do Pará. De início, reflete-se sobre os aportes teóricos que fundamentam a alternância na perspectiva do etnodesenvolvimento e da interculturalidade. Posteriormente, analisa-se os ganhos educacionais obtidos com a adoção da metodologia, sobretudo no plano da relação entre teoria e prática, e conhecimentos tradicionais com conhecimentos científicos, assim como os problemas e desafios que sua adoção gera no plano administrativo e na prática docente

Laparoscopy in management of appendicitis in high-, middle-, and low-income countries: a multicenter, prospective, cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is the most common abdominal surgical emergency worldwide. Differences between high- and low-income settings in the availability of laparoscopic appendectomy, alternative management choices, and outcomes are poorly described. The aim was to identify variation in surgical management and outcomes of appendicitis within low-, middle-, and high-Human Development Index (HDI) countries worldwide. METHODS: This is a multicenter, international prospective cohort study. Consecutive sampling of patients undergoing emergency appendectomy over 6 months was conducted. Follow-up lasted 30 days. RESULTS: 4546 patients from 52 countries underwent appendectomy (2499 high-, 1540 middle-, and 507 low-HDI groups). Surgical site infection (SSI) rates were higher in low-HDI (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.33-4.99, p = 0.005) but not middle-HDI countries (OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.76-2.52, p = 0.291), compared with high-HDI countries after adjustment. A laparoscopic approach was common in high-HDI countries (1693/2499, 67.7%), but infrequent in low-HDI (41/507, 8.1%) and middle-HDI (132/1540, 8.6%) groups. After accounting for case-mix, laparoscopy was still associated with fewer overall complications (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42-0.71, p < 0.001) and SSIs (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.14-0.33, p < 0.001). In propensity-score matched groups within low-/middle-HDI countries, laparoscopy was still associated with fewer overall complications (OR 0.23 95% CI 0.11-0.44) and SSI (OR 0.21 95% CI 0.09-0.45). CONCLUSION: A laparoscopic approach is associated with better outcomes and availability appears to differ by country HDI. Despite the profound clinical, operational, and financial barriers to its widespread introduction, laparoscopy could significantly improve outcomes for patients in low-resource environments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02179112