Incidence, Predictors, and Significance of Abnormal Cardiac Enzyme Rise in Patients Treated With Bypass Surgery in the Arterial Revascularization Therapies Study (ARTS)

BACKGROUND: Although it has been suggested that elevation of CK-MB after percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, limited data are available in the setting of coronary bypass grafting. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence, predictors, and prognostic significance of CK-MB elevation following multivessel coronary bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS AND RESULTS: The population comprises 496 patients with multivessel coronary disease assigned to CABG in the Arterial Revascularization Therapies Study (ARTS). CK-MB was prospectively measured at 6, 12, and 18 hours after the procedure. Thirty-day and 1-year clinical follow-up were performed. Abnormal CK-MB elevation occurred in 61.9% of the patients. Patients with increased cardiac-enzyme levels after CABG were at increased risk of both death and repeat myocardial infarction within the first 30 days (P=0.001). CK-MB elevation was also independently related to late adverse outcome (P=0.009, OR=0.64). CONCLUSIONS: Increased concentrations of CK-MB, which are often dismissed as inconsequential in the setting of multivessel CABG, appear to occur very frequently and are associated with a significant increase in both repeat myocardial infarction and death beyond the immediate perioperative period

Bacteriocinogenic Effect of Lactobacillus sakei 2a on Microbiological Quality of Fermented Sardinella brasiliensis

Lactobacillus sakei 2a is a bacteriocin producer strain and, in this work, it’s effects as a starter culture in the fermentation process of sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis) fillets were observed at different concentrations of NaCl (2, 4 and 6%) and glucose (2 and 4%), to determine it’s ability to produce organic acids and consequent pH reduction. Experiments were carried out independently, with only one parameter (NaCl or glucose) varying at a time. After 21 days of fermentation the deteriorative bacteria concentration reached 9.7 Log10 CFU. g-1 corresponding to 6% NaCl and 4% glucose. Little differences were observed in lactic acid production when 2 and 4% glucose were added, since total acidity was 1.32 and 1.34% respectively, the experiments with 6% NaCl presented the best results. Initial pH of sardine fillets was 6 and after 21 days pH values were 3.8, 3.9 and 4 for the experiments with 2, 4 and 6% NaCl. This may have been due to the inhibitory properties of NaCl over the deteriorative bacteria. After 21 days of the fermentation process lactic acid bacteria concentrations were 14.5 Log10 CFU.g-1. The ratio protein nitrogen and total soluble nitrogen was typical of a cured fish

A adoção de Sistemas Produtivos entre Grupos de Pequenos Produtores de Algodão no Brasil

Resumo: Este trabalho analisa os padrões de produção de grupos de pequenos produtores do algodão no Brasil e seus impactos sobre as preferências declaradas por novos sistemas de produção. Especificamente, verificam-se as principais características que diferenciam as escolhas pelos sistemas de algodão geneticamente modificado (Bt e RR) e não geneticamente modificado (colorido, orgânico e branco convencional). As análises baseiam-se em dados primários aplicados a grupos de pequenos produtores de algodão nas principais regiões produtoras no Brasil. Os padrões de associação entre as características do produtor e do sistema de produção foram analisados com a Análise de Correspondência Múltipla. A propensão a adotar novos sistemas de produção foi analisada pela Análise Conjunta. Os resultados destacam que, mesmo entre pequenos produtores, há distinções importantes entre os padrões de produção que determinam a escolha pelo tipo de semente. O conhecimento prévio do sistema de cultivo, através da prática agrícola corrente, mostra-se um fator fundamental nas preferências dos produtores por novos sistemas de produção. Conclui-se que a cadeia produtiva, principalmente o papel das cooperativas locais e das redes privadas de apoio à produção e à comercialização, teria um papel decisivo na definição de redes de influência e, consequentemente, na adoção dos sistemas produtivos

The Biological Carbon Pump in the North Atlantic

Mediated principally by the sinking of organic rich particles from the upper ocean, the Biological Carbon Pump (BCP) is a significant component of the global carbon cycle. It transfers roughly 11 Gt C yr−1 into the ocean’s interior and maintains atmospheric carbon dioxide at significantly lower levels than would be the case if it did not exist. More specifically, export by the BCP in the North Atlantic is ∼0.55–1.94 Gt C yr−1. A rich set of observations suggests that a complex set of processes drives this export. However, significant uncertainties exist regarding the BCP in the North Atlantic, including both the magnitude of the downward flux and the ecological, chemical and physical processes by which it is sustained and controlled. Our lack of detailed mechanistic understanding has also hindered modelling attempts to quantify and predict changes to the BCP. In this paper, we assess current knowledge concerning the BCP in the North Atlantic in order to identify priorities for future research, as well as suggesting how they might be addressed