Effect of Traditional Processing Techniques on the Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition of African Bread-Fruit (Treculia africana) Seeds

The effects of three traditional processing methods on the phytochemical, nutrient and mineral composition of Treculia africana seeds were evaluated. Mean proximate contents of dehulled raw samples (g/100mg) were protein (18.32 ± 0.54), fat (1.31 ± 0.02), ash (1.62 ± 0.02), crude fibre (1.31 ± 0.01) and carbohydrate (77.44 ± 8.46). Their phytochemical constituents yielded (g/100g) alkaloids (0.58 ± 0.08), phenols (0.82 ± 0.00), tannins (0.14 ± 0.00), flavonoids (1.30 ± 0.10), oxalate (11.37 ± 0.10), and saponins (0.37 ± 0.03). Mean mineral contents (mg/100g) of these raw samples were calcium (5.34 ± 1.15), magnesium (2.00 ± 0.35), iron (8.00 ± 0.00), selenium (0.18 ± 2.89), copper (0.35 ± 0.00), iodine (0.30 ± 0.01) and chromium (0.04 ± 0.00); while the vitamin A level was 2.24 ± 0.22 μg/100g. Boiling and drying resulted in a significant increase in only the carbohydrate content. Dehulling and roasting resulted in a significant decrease in selenium content and all the nutrients and phytochemicals estimated except for carbohydrates and flavonoids. Roasting of undehulled samples resulted in a significant decrease only in protein, fat and carbohydrate contents, and all phytochemicals except phenolic contents; while it increased the mineral content except for selenium, significantly (p < 0.05). All forms of processing reduced the vitamin A content of the seeds significantly (p < 0.05). Comparing the processing methods, boiling and drying resulted in less percentage decrease in nutrient and vitamin A composition but higher percentage loss in most phytochemicals. Roasting of undehulled seeds preserved the mineral elements better than the other methods. @JASEMJ. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. December, 2010, Vol. 14 (4) 169 - 17

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

Background Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications. Methods We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC). Findings In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683–0·717]). Interpretation In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required. Funding British Journal of Surgery Society