Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. Methods: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015. Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years, 65 to 80 years, and = 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. Results: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 = 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients =80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%, 65 years; 20.5%, 65-79 years; 31.3%, =80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%, <65 years;30.1%, 65-79 years;34.7%, =80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%, =80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age = 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI = 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88), and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared, the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. Conclusion: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age = 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI), and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Demostración experimental de un sistema sensor basado en redes de difracción en fibra para la medida de la deformación de vigas metálicas

A experimental demostration of the viability of a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) based fiber optic sensor system for the measurement of strain in a girder has been made. The girder has been monitorized with both conventional strain gauges and FBG transducers. Comparison results after several tests are reported

Controle químico da helmintosporiose (Bipolaris incurvata) em coqueiro cultivar 'Anão-verde' em condições de campo Chemical control of Bipolaris incurvata in coconut cv. 'Anão-Verde' under field conditions

Avaliou-se a eficácia de fungicidas para o controle da helmintosporiose (Bipolaris incurvata) do coqueiro, em condições de campo. O experimento foi conduzido em Ocauçu - SP, em plantas com 8 meses de idade. Foram realizadas três pulverizações com intervalo quinzenal, utilizando-se de 600 litros de calda/ha, com os ingredientes ativos: prothioconazole (0,100 e 0,150 L/ha), tebuconazole (0,150 e 0,200 L/ha) e propiconazole (0,125 e 0,250 L/ha). A primeira pulverização foi realizada em plantas com sintomas foliares da doença, de modo que todas as plantas avaliadas tinham as folhas velhas como fonte de inóculo. O controle proporcionado pelos ingredientes ativos, foi avaliado em folhas jovens que, sob condições climáticas favoráveis, foram suscetíveis ao ataque do patógeno. Constatou-se que todos os fungicidas e doses utilizados foram eficientes no controle da helmintosporiose (Bipolaris incurvata).<br>Helmintosporiose fungicide control efficacy was evaluated in coconut plants, at field conditions. The experiment was conducted in Ocauçu-SP (Brasil), using 8-months old plants. Three sprayings were applied, within 15 days intervals, with 600 liters of spray volume/ha. The treatments were defined by three doses of the following fungicides: prothioconazole (0.100 and 0.150 L/ha), tebuconazole (0.150 and 0.200 L/ha) and propiconazole (0.125 and 0.250 L/ha). The first spray was in symptomatic plants, therefore every evaluated plant had its old leaves as the inoculum source. The disease index evaluation was done in young leaves, which are susceptible to this pathogen under favorable environment conditions. All the fungicides and their doses used were efficient in controlling helmintosporiose leaf spot, except for their respective check-treatments (control treatments)