Analysis of some physiological indicators in tomato plants to characterize the effects of additional lighting with blue, red and white LEDs

The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in vegetable species is one of the technological procedures applied to improve the spectral composition of light in protected areas, as well as to stimulate plant growth, obtaining high values of production and increasing resistance to conditions of culture. The biological material represented by tomato seedlings, from varieties with nutritional value and with high ecological plasticity, was studied in terms of characterizing the effects of applying the treatment using light fields emitted by blue, red and white LEDs, by analysis physiological parameters, such as: photosynthesis intensity (μmols CO2m-2s -1), transpiration intensity (mmoles H2O m-2s -1), stomatal conductance (mols H2O m-2s -1) and intercellular carbon dioxide (mmol CO2 mol-1 air). In this study, the estimation of the amount of total chlorophyll (mg m-2), was also investigated. The determinations of the physiological parameters were performed in 3 series, and the recorded results were statistically analysed, by expressing the significance of the differences between the control and the studied tomato varieties being studied. Thus, after the treatment period, applied in 23 days (Series II), with monochrome LEDs, at the level of the stomatal conductance parameter, statistically assured values were registered for the plants in the ‘L-75’ line exposed to White LED and for those in the ‘L-76’ line exposed to the Blue LED. The analysis of the results from the investigation of the physiological parameters at the level of the leaves from the experimental samples indicated that after 35 days (Series III), from the application of the treatments of 30 minutes/day, with White LED light, they ensured the plants tomatoes from the ‘L-76’ line, distinctly significantly positive values, compared to those of the control plants, at the intensity of photosynthesis and the internal concentration of CO2

Efects of some drying methods on the content in bioactive compounds in sea buckthorn by-products

Recent research has shown that the consumption of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) berries has many benefits for human health. Large amount of waste which result from sea buckthorn berries processing, yet containing significant quantities of bioactive substances, is being the subject of numerous latest research studies. Sea buckthorn by-products represent a valuable source of bioactive compounds that could be used for their favorable nutritional and functional properties in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. The aim of this work is to establish a method for drying process of sea buckthorn by-products in order to obtain a powder from dry sea buckthorn waste with minimum loss of the bioactive substances. For this purpose, sea buckthorn by-product (peel and seeds) was dried at different temperatures (30˚C, 40˚C, 50˚C and 60˚C) by conventional hot air drying versus lyophilization method and then the antioxidant activity (DPPH), the content of total polyphenols and ascorbic acid content were determine

Preliminary research on using organic sea buckthorn powder in bread making

Bread is a food product that represents an important element in human nutrition, considered a convenient type of food, being consumed daily in large quantities in many parts of the world. Adding functional ingredients in bakery products was highly researched lately, because of their ability in the reduction of some chronic diseases besides improving of basic nutritional functions. The aim of the present paper was to obtain bread with different quantities of organic dried sea buckthorn powder (Sorana variety), as functional ingredient. For sample characterization, some phisico-chemical (dry matter %, aw) and nutritional parameters (antioxidant activity, total phenolic content) were determined, as well as sensorial analysis. The study obtained promising results regarding the use of sea buckthorn powder as ingredient in bread making

Sex difference and intra-operative tidal volume: Insights from the LAS VEGAS study

BACKGROUND: One key element of lung-protective ventilation is the use of a low tidal volume (VT). A sex difference in use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) has been described in critically ill ICU patients.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether a sex difference in use of LTVV also exists in operating room patients, and if present what factors drive this difference.DESIGN, PATIENTS AND SETTING: This is a posthoc analysis of LAS VEGAS, a 1-week worldwide observational study in adults requiring intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals in 29 countries.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Women and men were compared with respect to use of LTVV, defined as VT of 8 ml kg-1 or less predicted bodyweight (PBW). A VT was deemed 'default' if the set VT was a round number. A mediation analysis assessed which factors may explain the sex difference in use of LTVV during intra-operative ventilation.RESULTS: This analysis includes 9864 patients, of whom 5425 (55%) were women. A default VT was often set, both in women and men; mode VT was 500 ml. Median [IQR] VT was higher in women than in men (8.6 [7.7 to 9.6] vs. 7.6 [6.8 to 8.4] ml kg-1 PBW, P < 0.001). Compared with men, women were twice as likely not to receive LTVV [68.8 vs. 36.0%; relative risk ratio 2.1 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.1), P < 0.001]. In the mediation analysis, patients' height and actual body weight (ABW) explained 81 and 18% of the sex difference in use of LTVV, respectively; it was not explained by the use of a default VT.CONCLUSION: In this worldwide cohort of patients receiving intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery, women received a higher VT than men during intra-operative ventilation. The risk for a female not to receive LTVV during surgery was double that of males. Height and ABW were the two mediators of the sex difference in use of LTVV.TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01601223

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome as a Multidisciplinary Challenge. A Literature Review

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS), despite recent advances in medical and surgical care, is a significant cause of mortality. The purpose of this review is to present the main diagnostic and therapeutic aspects from the anesthetical and surgical points of view. Intra-abdominal hypertension may be diagnosed by measuring intra-abdominal pressure and indirectly by imaging and radiological means. Early detection of ACS is a key element in the ACS therapy. Without treatment, more than 90% of cases lead to death and according with the last reports, despite all treatment measures, the mortality rate is reported as being between 25 and 75%. There are conflicting reports as to the importance of a conservative therapy approach, although such an approach is the central to treatment guidelines of the World Society of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome, Decompressive laparotomy, although a backup solution in ACS therapy, reduces mortality by 16-37%. The open abdomen management has several variants, but negative pressure wound therapy represents the gold standard of surgical treatment

OSTEODISCITIS DUE TO MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS, IN A PATIENT WITH MILIARY TUBERCULOSIS, LEFT NEPHRECTOMY AND POST-OPERATIVE WOUNDS INFECTED WITH MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA

Background. Severe immunosuppression caused by various types of surgical procedures, such as ureteral catheterization, can increase the risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation and can be involved in the appereance of disseminated TB (1). Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the third most common organism, after Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis, isolated from patients with urinary tract infections in the hospital setting. Despite the progress made in the research field of antibiotics, mortality and morbidity associated with this etiology are still increased (2). Miliary TB is a form of disseminated TB that can be fatal in the absence of an early diagnosis and treatment. This form of disease mainly affects young immunosuppressed patients, and has a higher prevalence in women (1,3). Materials and methods. We present the case of a 25 year-old female, who was admitted at Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases for a postdiscectomy tuberculous spondylodiscitis (T11- T12). The hospital admission was for two reasons: to treat the post surgery wounds super infected with methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and secondly, to obtain a bacteriological confirmation for the tuberculous spondylodiscitis (at T11-T12) in order to start an anti-tuberculous drug regimen. Results. After the diagnosis and treatment initiation with meropenem, colistin, vancomycin and anti-tuberculous drugs the outcome of the patient was favorable. The clinical, bacteriological and radiological parameters normalized after one month of therapy. Conclusions. When a infection is bacteriologically confirmed, early antibiotic susceptibility testing and treatment are essential for the prevention of serious local and systemic complications associated with surgical procedures

The Importance of Accurate Early Diagnosis and Eradication in <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection: Pictorial Summary Review in Children and Adults

Among the most widespread childhood infections, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) develops potentially life-threatening conditions in adults if not appropriately treated. Helicobacter pylori is a common human pathogen that was first described in the stomach many years ago. The discovery of H. pylori was crucial in gastroenterology; this bacterium is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric cancer, and lymphoid tissue lymphoma related to the gastric mucosa. Studies published so far estimate that approximately 10% of subjects infected with H. pylori develop a peptic ulcer, and 1–3% of subjects develop gastric cancer. The clinical manifestations are variable and characteristically depend on the individual factors of the host. Various methods of detection and diagnosis of H. pylori infection have been developed, each with advantages, disadvantages, and/or limitations. Available diagnostic tests are usually performed using invasive (endoscopy, biopsy, rapid urease test, cultures, and molecular tests) and noninvasive methods (urea breath test, stool antigen examination, and serological and molecular tests). Although there is extensive accessibility for diagnosing and treating H. pylori infection, the prevalence of antibiotic resistance is not negligible. Thus, numerous studies and meta-analyses are focused on a new orientation of gastroenterologists in diagnosing and treating H. pylori infections. A fascinating perspective hypothesis is the administration of probiotics to reduce H. pylori adhesion to gastric epithelial cells, preventing H. pylori colonization, especially in children, or reinfection with H. pylori in high-risk adult patients