Evaluación fisicoquímica y microbiológica de ahuyama (Cucurbita moschata) troceada en fresco con recubrimiento y polietileno

composed of vitamin A, carbohydrates, phosphorus and minerals. Also, for its content of 45 % of total carotenoids; 66 % of β-carotene; 33 % of α-carotene, and 44 % of lutein. However, its high amount of water, about 90%, is conducive to bacterial and/or fungal growth reducing its useful life. Present study evaluated every three days, over a total of 12, three repetitions and three replications of freshly cut green bolus squash variety. Physicochemical attributes like weight, color, firmness, and respiration rate were observed, as well as those microscopic (MOAR and MET); bromatological, and microbiological characteristics to 4 different treatments as follow:  SN (control sample); CV (Vinyl wrap); CR (coated with cassava starch and 1 % thyme essential oil); and CB: (binary system with natural source coating and Vinyl wrap) under environmental conditions of 19 °C temperature and 77,75 % average humidity. Vinyl wrap treatment exhibited lower weight, firmness loss, fewer respiration rate loss, and had better color stability. Control and coated samples showed higher sugar and moisture content but lower ash and protein. Additionally, samples with coated and uncoated stretch film registered minor fungal growth.  Fresh cut squash could be properly preserved through the use of low-density polyethylene films (vinyl wrap), allowing to effectively delay the course of quality loss because of handling operations.La  ahuyama  (Cucurbita  moschata)  se  caracteriza  por  su  valor  nutritivo,  especialmente  por  su contenido de vitamina A, carbohidratos, fósforo y minerales. También, por poseer 45 % de carotenoides totales, 66 % de β-caroteno, 33 % de α- caroteno y 44 % de luteína. Su elevado porcentaje de agua cercano al 90 % es propicio para el crecimiento bacteriano y/o fúngico disminuyendo su vida útil. Este estudio evaluó, cada tres días  durante un total de 12, con tres  repeticiones  y  tres  réplicas, las características fisicoquímicas (peso, color, firmeza, tasa de respiración); microscópicas (MOAR y MET), bromatológicas y microbiológicas, de ahuyama variedad bolo verde troceada en fresco.  4 tratamientos: SN (muestra testigo); CV con vinipel; CR con recubrimiento de almidón de yuca y aceite  esencial  de  tomillo al 1 %; y CB con sistema binario  (recubrimiento de fuente natural y vinipel) a una temperatura de 19 °C  y humedad media de 77,75 %. Los tratamientos con película de vinilo arrojaron menor pérdida de peso y  firmeza, menor  tasa  de  respiración y mayor estabilidad en el color, en  tanto  que  las muestras  testigo y recubiertas, arrojaron mayor contenido de azúcares y humedad,  pero menor cantidad de  proteína  y  cenizas.  Adicionalmente,  las  muestras  con  vinipel,  con y sin recubrimiento, registraron un menor crecimiento fúngico.  La ahuyama  troceada  en  fresco  puede conservarse  de  forma  adecuada  mediante  el  uso  de películas de polietileno de baja densidad (vinipel), que permiten retrasar de manera efectiva los procesos de pérdida de calidad inducidos por las operaciones de corte y manipulación

How Did the COVID-19 Lockdown Pandemic Affect the Depression Symptomatology in Mediterranean Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome?

Background and Aims. To control the COVID-19 spread, in March 2020, a forced home lockdown was established in Spain. In the present study, we aimed to assess the effect of mobility and social COVID-19-established restrictions on depressive symptomatology in older adults with metabolic syndrome. We hypothesize that severe restrictions might have resulted in detrimental changes in depressive symptomatology. Methods. 2,312 PREDIMED-Plus study participants (men = 53:9%; mean age = 64:9±4:8 years) who completed a COVID-19 lockdown questionnaire to assess the severity of restrictions/lockdown and the validated Spanish version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) during the three established phases concerning the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain (prelockdown, lockdown, and postlockdown) were included in this longitudinal analysis. Participants were categorized according to high or low lockdown severity. Analyses of covariance were performed to assess changes in depressive symptomatology across lockdown phases. Results. No significant differences in participant depression symptomatology changes were observed between lockdown severity categories (low/high) at the studied phases. During the lockdown phase, participants showed a decrease in BDI-II score compared to the prelockdown phase (mean (95% CI), -0.48 (-0.24, -0.72), P < 0:001); a nonsignificantly larger decrease was observed in participants allocated in the low-lockdown category (low: -0.59 (-0.95, -0.23), high: -0.43 (-0.67, -0.19)). Similar decreases in depression symptomatology were found for the physical environment dimension. The post- and prelockdown phase BDI-II scores were roughly similar. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown was associated with a decrease in depressive symptomatology that returned to prelockdown levels after the lockdown. The degree of lockdown was not associated with depressive symptomatology. The potential preventive role of the physical environment and social interactions on mental disorders during forced home lockdown should be further studie

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Largest HIV-1 CRF02_AG Outbreak in Spain: Evidence for Onward Transmissions

Background and Aim: The circulating recombinant form 02_AG (CRF02_AG) is the predominant clade among the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) non-Bs with a prevalence of 5.97% (95% Confidence Interval-CI: 5.41–6.57%) across Spain. Our aim was to estimate the levels of regional clustering for CRF02_AG and the spatiotemporal characteristics of the largest CRF02_AG subepidemic in Spain.Methods: We studied 396 CRF02_AG sequences obtained from HIV-1 diagnosed patients during 2000–2014 from 10 autonomous communities of Spain. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the 391 CRF02_AG sequences along with all globally sampled CRF02_AG sequences (N = 3,302) as references. Phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis was performed to the largest CRF02_AG monophyletic cluster by a Bayesian method in BEAST v1.8.0 and by reconstructing ancestral states using the criterion of parsimony in Mesquite v3.4, respectively.Results: The HIV-1 CRF02_AG prevalence differed across Spanish autonomous communities we sampled from (p &lt; 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 52.7% of the CRF02_AG sequences formed 56 monophyletic clusters, with a range of 2–79 sequences. The CRF02_AG regional dispersal differed across Spain (p = 0.003), as suggested by monophyletic clustering. For the largest monophyletic cluster (subepidemic) (N = 79), 49.4% of the clustered sequences originated from Madrid, while most sequences (51.9%) had been obtained from men having sex with men (MSM). Molecular clock analysis suggested that the origin (tMRCA) of the CRF02_AG subepidemic was in 2002 (median estimate; 95% Highest Posterior Density-HPD interval: 1999–2004). Additionally, we found significant clustering within the CRF02_AG subepidemic according to the ethnic origin.Conclusion: CRF02_AG has been introduced as a result of multiple introductions in Spain, following regional dispersal in several cases. We showed that CRF02_AG transmissions were mostly due to regional dispersal in Spain. The hot-spot for the largest CRF02_AG regional subepidemic in Spain was in Madrid associated with MSM transmission risk group. The existence of subepidemics suggest that several spillovers occurred from Madrid to other areas. CRF02_AG sequences from Hispanics were clustered in a separate subclade suggesting no linkage between the local and Hispanic subepidemics

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Efecto de aditivo masterbatch en película biodegradable de almidón termoplástico de yuca y ácido poliláctico

Dados los requerimientos actuales en materiales plásticos no contaminantes, se llevó a cabo el estudio del efecto de un aditivo Masterbatch sobre las propiedades mecánicas, de barrera y ópticas de un polímero elaborado por extrusión-soplado a partir de almidón de yuca, ácido poliláctico (PLA) y Masterbatch gris (MBG). Se estableció que la película presentó una permeabilidad al vapor de agua en el día 90 de seguimiento (5,75E-14 g/m*s*Pa),  en el caso de la permeabilidad al oxígeno el valor más bajo se presentó en el día 30 (9,57503E19 mol/m*s*Pa), la absorción de agua y porcentaje de solubilidad decrecieron a lo largo del tiempo pasando de 97,9% (día 8) a 86,3% (día 90) y 25,41% (día 8) a 19,61% (día 90), respectivamente. En relación a la resistencia máxima a la tensión no hubo diferencia significativa durante el tiempo de evaluación, se presentó una disminución en el módulo de Young (235,50 a 173,10 MPa) y aumentó la elongación máxima en el punto de rotura (2,64 a 11,34 %). En cuanto al color, las muestras presentaron una luminosidad superior al valor de 50, es decir, neutralidad en el color,  de igual forma con respecto a Chroma (o saturación) (promedio de 1,46) y una tendencia hacia el neutro en el matiz por sus valores cercanos a 0. Como prueba de apoyo se realizó una prueba de Calorimetría Diferencial de Barrido (DSC). 

Estado actual del uso de recubrimientos comestibles en frutas y hortalizas

The substantial increase in vegetable product losses are due to improper practices at the time of harvest and those derived from the conditioning and subsequent treatments that impact significantly on its quality characteristics. These also affect the profitability of a sector that is called to strengthen the feeding of humanity, arousing great concern among supply chains, to define strategies to minimize impacts and strengthen competitiveness in increasingly demanding markets. Researchers have been concerned about the development of friendly environmental techniques that allow the use of natural materials such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and the mixture of these compounds. These are applied as edible coatings on fruits and vegetables. This process controls the growth of pathogenic organisms and deteriorative action of external agents. These agents cause defects in ripening. The goal is to prolong their lifespan by reducing the transfer of gases and water vapor and offer fresh looking products, with high nutritional quality, free of pathogens. El incremento sustancial en las pérdidas de productos vegetales a causa las inadecuadas prácticas en el momento de la cosecha, y las derivadas del acondicionamiento y tratamientos posteriores que inciden de manera significativa sobre las características de calidad, afectando además la rentabilidad de un sector que es llamado a fortalecer la alimentación de la humanidad, han suscitado gran inquietud entre los miembros de la cadena de abastecimiento para definir estrategias orientadas a minimizar los impactos y fortalecer la competitividad en los mercados cada vez más exigentes. Los investigadores se han preocupado por el desarrollo de técnicas amigables con el medio ambiente que permitan el uso de materiales naturales como polisacáridos, proteínas, lípidos y la mezcla de éstos compuestos, y ser aplicados como recubrimientos comestibles sobre frutas y hortalizas que permitan controlar el crecimiento de organismos patógenos y la acción deteriorativa de los agentes externos que ocasionan defectos en la maduración, para prolongar la vida útil al reducir la transferencia de gases y vapor de agua y ofertar productos de apariencia fresca, elevada calidad nutricional y libres de patógeno

Efecto microbiológico de recubrimiento modificado por vía ácida sobre el tomate larga vida

Se aplicó un recubrimiento elaborado con almidón de yuca modificado por vía ácida, para evaluar el comportamiento pos-cosecha del tomate bajo condiciones ambientales, determinando su efecto sobre las características estructurales del tomate y su acción microbiológica sobre los hongos Colletotrichum sp y Fusarium Sp. La modificación de almidón nativo de yuca variedad SM 707-17 se realizó por adición de ácido cítrico (15% p/p respecto al almidón en base seca) a una suspensión de almidón sometida a condiciones controladas de temperatura y velocidad de agitación. El efecto se comparó con el de la aplicación de otros elaborados con base en almidón modificado enzimáticamente y almidón nativo, siendo T1: muestra testigo; T2: recubrimiento con almidón modificado enzimáticamente; T3: recubrimiento con almidón modificado con ácido cítrico y T4: recubrimiento con almidón nativo. La aplicación se realizó de forma manual con esponja limpia y estéril; los tomates se colocaron en bandejas rotuladas dejando secar por 24 h a temperatura ambiente, a partir de las cuales se inició la medición de las variables crecimiento microbiano y caracterización microscópica del exocarpo del tomate durante 15 días, aplicando un diseño factorial completamente al azar 4x6, que tuvo en cuenta el tipo de muestras relacionadas e independientes; los datos obtenidos se analizaron mediante el software SPSS versión 19 con el cual se encontró que el factor “Recubrimiento” no influyó sobre las variables de respuesta analizadas, a diferencia del factor “Tiempo” que tuvo efecto decisivo sobre las mismas

Effect of the application of an acid-modified cassava starch coating on the long-life tomato

Se buscó minimizar el efecto de factores ambientales sobre la calidad pos cosecha del tomate, mediante la aplicación de recubrimiento elaborado con almidón de yuca modificado por vía ácida. La modificación de la estructura original de una suspensión de almidón de yuca variedad SM 707-17, se realizó mediante adición de ácido cítrico, en concentración de 15% p/p respecto al almidón en base seca, bajo condiciones de temperatura y de velocidad de agitación controladas. El efecto de este recubrimiento, se comparó con el efecto de la aplicación de otros elaborados con base en almidón modificado enzimáticamente y almidón nativo. Se midieron las variables: sólidos solubles totales, firmeza, pH, acidez titulable, tasa de respiración, pérdida de peso y color durante 15 días, aplicando un diseño factorial completamente al azar 4x6. Los resultados, se analizaron mediante el software SPSS versión 19, con el cual, se encontró que el factor “Recubrimiento” no influyó sobre las variables de respuesta analizadas, a diferencia del factor “Tiempo”, que tuvo efecto decisivo sobre las mismas.The aim was to minimize the effect of environmental factors on postharvest of tomato quality by applying a coating made with cassava starch modifi ed by acid route. The modifi cation of the original structure of a suspension of native starch of cassava variety SM 707-17, was carried out by addition of citric acid in concentration of 15% w/w with respect to the starch in dry base, under controlled temperature and speed of controlled agitation. The effect of this coating was compared with the effect of the application of others made on the basis of enzymatically modifi ed starch and native starch. The variables total soluble solids, fi rmness, pH, titrable acidity, respiration rate, weight loss and color for 15 days were measured, applying a completely randomized 4x6 factorial design. The results were analyzed using SPSS software version 19, which found that the “Coating” factor did not infl uence the response variables analyzed, unlike the “Time” factor that had a decisive effect on them.Incluye referencias bibliográfica

Efeito microbiológico do revestimento de ácido amplificado na vida de longo tomate

A coating elaborated with modified cassava starch was applied by acid route, to evaluate the post-harvest behavior of the tomato under environmental conditions, determining its effect on the microbiological and structural characteristics. The modification of native starch of cassava variety SM 707-17 was carried out by addition of citric acid (15% w/w with respect to starch on dry basis) to a suspension of starch subjected to controlled conditions of temperature and speed of agitation. The effect was compared with that of the application of others elaborated based on enzymatically modified starch and native starch, being T1: control sample; T2: coating with enzymatically modified starch; T3: coating with starch modified with citric acid and T4: coating with native starch. The application was made manually with clean and sterile sponge; The tomatoes were placed in labeled trays, allowing to dry for 24 h at room temperature, from which the microbial growth and microscopic characterization of the tomato exocarp was measured for 15 days, applying a completely randomized 4x6 factorial design that had consider the type of related and independent samples; the data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software version 19, which found that the "Coating" factor did not influence the response variables analyzed, unlike the "Time" factor that had a decisive effect on them.Se aplicó un recubrimiento elaborado con almidón de yuca modificado por vía ácida, para evaluar el comportamiento pos-cosecha del tomate bajo condiciones ambientales, determinando su efecto sobre las características estructurales del tomate y su acción microbiológica sobre los hongos Colletotrichum sp y Fusarium Sp. La modificación de almidón nativo de yuca variedad SM 707-17 se realizó por adición de ácido cítrico (15% p/p respecto al almidón en base seca) a una suspensión de almidón sometida a condiciones controladas de temperatura y velocidad de agitación. El efecto se comparó con el de la aplicación de otros elaborados con base en almidón modificado enzimáticamente y almidón nativo, siendo T1: muestra testigo; T2: recubrimiento con almidón modificado enzimáticamente; T3: recubrimiento con almidón modificado con ácido cítrico y T4: recubrimiento con almidón nativo. La aplicación se realizó de forma manual con esponja limpia y estéril; los tomates se colocaron en bandejas rotuladas dejando secar por 24 h a temperatura ambiente, a partir de las cuales se inició la medición de las variables crecimiento microbiano y caracterización microscópica del exocarpo del tomate durante 15 días, aplicando un diseño factorial completamente al azar 4x6, que tuvo en cuenta el tipo de muestras relacionadas e independientes; los datos obtenidos se analizaron mediante el software SPSS versión 19 con el cual se encontró que el factor “Recubrimiento” no influyó sobre las variables de respuesta analizadas, a diferencia del factor “Tiempo” que tuvo efecto decisivo sobre las mismas