Study of the drying kinetics for apples in a convective drier

In the present work a convective drier was used to dehydrate apple slices up to a moisture content of less than 2 % (wet basis), so as to obtain a crunchy apple snack. Two commercial varieties were tested, namely Golden and Smith. The drier was operated at different temperatures, 30, 40 50 and 60 ºC, and the moisture content of the product was calculated based on the mass, which was registered by means of a data logger, throughout the whole trial. The kinetic data was then treated and fitted to different thin layer models frequently cited in literature, which were: Page, Henderson and Pabis, Logarithmic and Vega-Lemus. Others were also tested, but convergence was not achieved. For the fitting software SigmaPlot V8.0 (SPSS, Inc.) was used, and to evaluate the quality of the estimations the correlation coefficient (R) and the standard error of the estimate (SEE) were determined From the models tested it was possible to see that the Vega-Lemus was the worst to describe the drying kinetic in the present case, on the other hand, the best model was the Page. Also the Fick’s equation for diffusion was used to estimate the diffusivities at different temperatures, and from those to estimate the activation energy for moisture diffusion, which was found to be 35 kJ/mol for the drying of apples from Golden variety and 33 kJ/mol for the Smith variety

Study of chemical and physical properties of apples dried in a convective drier.

The present study evaluates the effects of drying on apple slices from two varieties, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith, which were analyzed in terms of physical and chemical properties. The tests involved the determination of moisture, acidity, soluble solids, colour and texture. Trials were performed in a convective hot air dryer for different temperatures of 30, 40, 50 and 60 ° C. The results showed that the final moisture of the two varieties of apples was around 3 % (wet basis). With regards to acidity, the variety Granny Smith was found to be more acid than the Golden Delicious. The soluble solids are present, in general, in greater amounts in the variety Granny Smith. As to the colour, this varied very considerably from the fresh apples to the dried ones. Apples of the variety Golden Delicious presented a higher intensity of yellow (b* > 0) and red (a* > 0). However, in comparison to the variety Granny Smith the Golden Delicious presents, in general, smaller total colour differences. The textural attributes evaluated were hardness, adhesiveness, elasticity, cohesiveness and chewiness. However, the results for adhesiveness were very close to zero showing that these products do not have adhesiveness, as it happens with other fruits. It was also found that the fresh apples have a much higher hardness, when compared to the dried samples. Elasticity, on the other hand, was kept approximately constant regardless of the variety or state. Cohesiveness was higher in the fresh apples, and for the dried ones was higher for variety Golden. Finally, chewiness was higher for the fresh apples in comparison to the dried ones, and was higher for Golden Delicious when compared with Granny Smith

Coinfecção por Citomegalovírus e Vírus Herpes Simples: Recorrência em Doente Transplantado Renal

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HELLP Syndrome a Severe Form of Preeclampsia: a Comparative Study of Clinical and Laboratorial Parameters

The objective of this study was to compare clinical, laboratorial, maternal and perinatal results between HELLP Syndrome and severe Preeclampsia. An observational study comparing women with HELLP Syndrome (n=71) to women with severe preeclampsia (n=253) was done. The authors analyzed the early course of the pathologies and the outcomes in both groups. HELLP syndrome occurred in 28% of all the cases and was more frequent at gestational age before 32 weeks (n=39 – 55%) than severe preeclampsia (n=108 - 42%), with more newborns weighting less than 1500g (27 – 38.6% vs 65 – 25.6%; p=0.036). Thrombocytopenia below 100 000/μL (aOR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.49 – 3.06) and LDH>1 000 UI/L (aOR: 5.17; 95% CI 2.19 – 12.16) were risk factors for HELLP. Maternal morbidity (eclampsia, abruptio placentae, and acute renal failure) was similar in both cohorts; eight stillbirths (6 in severe preeclampsia and 2 in HELLP Syndrome) occurred. There were no maternal deaths. In conclusion, in this study the authors confirmed that HELLP Syndrome is a severe form of preeclampsia with an earlier presentation in pregnancy, worst laboratorial findings and more prematurity rates

How the population’s perceptions influence their behaviours regarding the consumption of fibre rich foods

The association between dietary fibre, health benefits and healthy food has been studied in recent years. The food industry, to accompany the strong interest shown by consumers, has placed at their disposal new products, rich in dietary fibre. In order to meet this huge interest and demand for these products, this work was elaborated, which had as main objective to evaluate the degree of knowledge of the Portuguese population about fibre and its effects on health, as well as evaluating the their consumption habits in respect of fibres. To achieve this goal an inquiry was carried out by questionnaire to 182 adults. The most relevant results indicate that only 13% of the inquired eat two meals a day with vegetables and/or salads and 9% eat at least 3 pieces of fruit. Whole grains are never consumed by 41% and 18% do so at least once a week. The vast majority (90%) of respondents have the notion that fibre intake contributes to the prevention and treatment of diseases. With this work it was concluded that respondents‘ knowledge about dietary fibre is insufficient, and that although they give great importance to their role in treatment and prevention of diseases, the level of intake is too low

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Epidemiology, Physiopathology, Clinical Manifestation and Diagnostic

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a term used to define a compilation of signs and symptoms arising from decreased estrogenic stimulation of the vulvovaginal and lower urinary tract. Among 27-84% of women in postmenopausal are affected for symptoms of GSM, and these can unquestionably impair health, sexual function, consequently the quality of life of these women. The main signs and symptoms of GSM include, among others, burning, irritation, vulvovaginal dryness, dyspareunia, urinary symptoms of urgency, dysuria, or recurrent urinary tract infection. The diagnosis can be made through anamnesis, questionnaires, physical exams, and, sometimes, complementary exams. Objective vaginal assessment is essential and can be complemented by using the Vaginal Health Index (VHI), Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI), or vaginal pH measurement. The acknowledgment of this condition by health professionals is crucial for its identification and proper management and exclusion of other conditions that make a differential diagnosis with it.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Use of Moisturizers and Lubricants for Vulvovaginal Atrophy

The estrogen decrease in postmenopausal women results in functional and anatomical changes in the genitourinary tract. The most prevalent and bothersome symptoms are vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and reduced lubrication, which can significantly affect the quality of life of these women, principally those who are sexually active. Hormonal therapy with local estrogens is generally considered the "gold standard." However, there are cases in which there are clinical concerns about its use or women opt for non-hormonal options. Thus, safe and effective non-hormonal options are needed to improve symptoms in these women. Moisturizers and lubricants are first-line therapy for breast cancer survivors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

L’utilisation combinée des scores GRACE et CRUSADE pour la stratification du risque d’infarctus du myocarde

BACKGROUND: Risk assessment is fundamental in the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), enabling estimation of prognosis. AIMS: To evaluate whether the combined use of GRACE and CRUSADE risk stratification schemes in patients with myocardial infarction outperforms each of the scores individually in terms of mortality and haemorrhagic risk prediction. METHODS: Observational retrospective single-centre cohort study including 566 consecutive patients admitted for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The CRUSADE model increased GRACE discriminatory performance in predicting all-cause mortality, ascertained by Cox regression, demonstrating CRUSADE independent and additive predictive value, which was sustained throughout follow-up. The cohort was divided into four different subgroups: G1 (GRACE<141; CRUSADE<41); G2 (GRACE<141; CRUSADE≥41); G3 (GRACE≥141; CRUSADE<41); G4 (GRACE≥141; CRUSADE≥41). RESULTS: Outcomes and variables estimating clinical severity, such as admission Killip-Kimbal class and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, deteriorated progressively throughout the subgroups (G1 to G4). Survival analysis differentiated three risk strata (G1, lowest risk; G2 and G3, intermediate risk; G4, highest risk). The GRACE+CRUSADE model revealed higher prognostic performance (area under the curve [AUC] 0.76) than GRACE alone (AUC 0.70) for mortality prediction, further confirmed by the integrated discrimination improvement index. Moreover, GRACE+CRUSADE combined risk assessment seemed to be valuable in delineating bleeding risk in this setting, identifying G4 as a very high-risk subgroup (hazard ratio 3.5; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combined risk stratification with GRACE and CRUSADE scores can improve the individual discriminatory power of GRACE and CRUSADE models in the prediction of all-cause mortality and bleeding. This combined assessment is a practical approach that is potentially advantageous in treatment decision-making

Hormonal Approach for Postmenopausal Vulvovaginal Atrophy

Menopause is a physiological and progressive phenomenon secondary to decreased ovarian follicular reserve that significantly affects the genital tract. Although postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy primarily affects postmenopausal women, it is also seen in premenopausal women. The hypoestrogenic condition results in hormonal and anatomical changes, with the main symptoms, are dryness, burning and genital irritation, decreased lubrication, urinary urgency, dysuria, and recurrent urinary tract infections. This review aims to update hormone therapy for urogenital atrophy, both local and systemic, and discusses the importance of understanding and the need for active treatment of this condition. The main therapeutic objective is the relief of symptoms, and hormonal therapy (HT) is still the most effective choice for treating clinical manifestations, despite the side effects of its use. HT should be used in an individualized way to the needs of the women and appropriate to the stage in which she is menopausal, perimenopausal, or after menopause.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio