ESTUDO DA SECAGEM ARTIFICIAL DE AMÊNDOAS DE CACAU VISANDO AO APROVEITAMENTO NA INDÚSTRIA DE CHOCOLATE: OTIMIZAÇÃO ESTRUTURAL DO PROCESSO E EFICIÊNCIA ENERGÉTICA

O beneficiamento do cacau, fruto em destaque no norte do ES, tem por finalidade manter a qualidade das amêndoas secas para uso como matéria prima na fabricação de produtos de cacau como o chocolate, manteiga de cacau e outros. É comum a secagem solar, devido à sua fácil implementação. No entanto, a qualidade das amêndoas pode ser comprometida, pois esse processo depende das condições climáticas. Desse modo, existe como alternativa à utilização de secadores convectivos artificiais. Entre os modelos de secadores já existentes no mercado, para secagem de grãos em geral, foi selecionado o túnel de vento, com controle da temperatura e do fluxo de ar. As secagens foram conduzidas por meio de camada única, utilizando o cultivar CCN 51, modulando-se a temperatura do ar de secagem em esquemas step down (SD), step up (SU) ou fixa (FX), com variações de fluxo do ar entre 1 a 3 m.s-1. O objetivo é de maximizar a preservação dos compostos fenólicos encontrando as melhores condições operacionais de secagem das amêndoas de cacau, previamente fermentadas em 5 dias, tendo como variável resposta a xbs(final), encolhimento, CFT e atividade antioxidante com EC50 de cada experimento. Por meio das técnicas da Engenharia de Processos, desenvolveu-se uma árvore de estados com seis subsistemas, entre a raiz, despolpamento, fermentação, método de secagem, tipo de escoamento do ar e modulação de temperatura do ar. Para a seleção dos ramos promissores, os métodos heurístico e evolutivo foram empregados. A secagem foi interrompida quando a variação de massa era menor que 1% em períodos de 30 min. Com a aquisição de imagens das amêndoas durante a secagem por meio de câmera digital, foram tratadas pelo software ImageJ®, que possibilitou a determinação da área em função do tempo. As medidas de temperatura do ar antes e após a amostra, no interior do túnel, permitiu obter valores de eficiência energética de secagem, que se mostrou inferior a 10 % em média aritmética e os resultados não foram satisfatórios, sendo necessários melhorias no processo. Para a quantificação dos compostos fenólicos totais, seguiu-se o método de Folin-Ciocalteu, com base em ácido gálico, como composto fenólico padrão. A atividade antioxidante foi determinada pelo ensaio espectrofotométrico do radical DPPH. Por meio de análise estatística, verificou-se que houve uma maior influência na modulação de temperatura em relação a velocidade do ar de secagem. A partir deste estudo, definiu-se que o esquema step down satisfazia como melhor condição operacional na etapa de secagem artificial, no qual conferiu melhores características funcionais para as amêndoas secas com teores de CFT superiores a 3,0 mgEAG/100 mg Cacau. Palavras-Chave: Otimização Estrutural. Cacau. Secagem. Compostos Fenólicos Totais. Antioxidantes

Clinical characteristics and management of cancer-associated acute venous thromboembolism: findings from the MASTER Registry.

Background: Clinical characteristics and management of acute deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE) have been reported to be different in patients with and without cancer. The aim of this paper was to provide information on clinical characteristics and management of acute venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer by means of a large prospective registry. Design and Methods: MASTER is a multicenter registry of consecutively recruited patients with symptomatic, objectively confirmed, acute venous thromboembolism. Information about clinical characteristics and management was collected by an electronic data network at the time of the index event. Results: A total of 2119 patients were enrolled, of whom 424 (20%) had cancer. The incidence of bilateral lower limb deep vein thrombosis was significantly higher in patients with cancer than in patients without cancer (8.5% versus 4.6%; p<0.01), as were the rates of iliocaval thombosis (22.6% versus 14%; p<0.001), and upper limb deep vein thrombosis (9.9% versus 4.8%; p<0.001). Major bleeding (3.3% versus 1.1%; p=0.001), in-hospital treatment (73.3% versus 66.6%; p=0.02) and inferior vena cava filter implantation (7.3% versus 4.1%; p=0.005) were significantly more frequent in patients with cancer, in whom oral anticoagulants were less often used (64.2% versus 82%; p<0.0001). Conclusions: The clinical presentation of acute venous thromboembolism is different and often more extensive in cancer patients than in patients free from malignancy. Moreover, the management of the acute phase of venous thromboembolism is more problematic in cancer patients, especially because of a higher rate of major bleeding and the need for implantation of inferior vena cava filters

Low Occurrence of Infections and Death in a Real-World Cohort of Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

Background. The incidence of infections and death in patients implanted with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is not fully known yet. Aim. To describe the incidence of CIED-related infection and death, and their potential predictors in a contemporary cohort of CIED patients. Methods. All consecutive patients implanted with a CIED at our institution were prospectively enrolled. Follow-up visits were performed 2 weeks after CIED implantation for all patients, and then every 6 months for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)/cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) patients and every 12 months for pacemaker (PM) patients. The adjudication of CIED-related infections was performed by two independent investigators and potential disagreement was resolved by a senior investigator. Results. Between September 2016 and August 2020, a total of 838 patients were enrolled (34.6% female; median age 77 (69.6–83.6); median PADIT score 2 (2–4)). PMs were implanted in 569 (68%) patients and ICD/CRT in 269 (32%) patients. All patients had pre-implant antibiotic prophylaxis and 5.5% had an antibiotic-eluting envelope. Follow-up data were available for 832 (99.2%) patients. After a median follow-up of 42.3 (30.2–56.4) months, five (0.6%) patients had a CIED-related infection and 212 (25.5%) patients died. Using multivariate Cox regression analysis, end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) requiring dialysis and therapy with corticosteroids was independently associated with a higher risk of infection (hazard ratio (HR): 14.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.48–136.62 and HR: 14.71; 95% CI 1.53–141.53, respectively). Age (HR: 1.07; 95% CI 1.05–1.09), end-stage CKD requiring dialysis (HR: 6.13; 95% CI 3.38–11.13) and history of atrial fibrillation (HR: 1.47; 95% CI 1.12–1.94) were independently associated with all-cause death. Conclusions. In a contemporary cohort of CIED patients, mortality was substantially high and associated with clinical factors depicting a population at risk. On the other hand, the incidence of CIED-related infections was low

Extended thromboprophylaxis with betrixaban in acutely ill medical patients

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute medical illnesses are at prolonged risk for venous thrombosis. However, the appropriate duration of thromboprophylaxis remains unknown. METHODS: Patients who were hospitalized for acute medical illnesses were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous enoxaparin (at a dose of 40 mg once daily) for 10±4 days plus oral betrixaban placebo for 35 to 42 days or subcutaneous enoxaparin placebo for 10±4 days plus oral betrixaban (at a dose of 80 mg once daily) for 35 to 42 days. We performed sequential analyses in three prespecified, progressively inclusive cohorts: patients with an elevated d-dimer level (cohort 1), patients with an elevated d-dimer level or an age of at least 75 years (cohort 2), and all the enrolled patients (overall population cohort). The statistical analysis plan specified that if the between-group difference in any analysis in this sequence was not significant, the other analyses would be considered exploratory. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of asymptomatic proximal deep-vein thrombosis and symptomatic venous thromboembolism. The principal safety outcome was major bleeding. RESULTS: A total of 7513 patients underwent randomization. In cohort 1, the primary efficacy outcome occurred in 6.9% of patients receiving betrixaban and 8.5% receiving enoxaparin (relative risk in the betrixaban group, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 1.00; P=0.054). The rates were 5.6% and 7.1%, respectively (relative risk, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.98; P=0.03) in cohort 2 and 5.3% and 7.0% (relative risk, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.92; P=0.006) in the overall population. (The last two analyses were considered to be exploratory owing to the result in cohort 1.) In the overall population, major bleeding occurred in 0.7% of the betrixaban group and 0.6% of the enoxaparin group (relative risk, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.67 to 2.12; P=0.55). CONCLUSIONS: Among acutely ill medical patients with an elevated d-dimer level, there was no significant difference between extended-duration betrixaban and a standard regimen of enoxaparin in the prespecified primary efficacy outcome. However, prespecified exploratory analyses provided evidence suggesting a benefit for betrixaban in the two larger cohorts. (Funded by Portola Pharmaceuticals; APEX ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01583218.)

Drug management of atrial fibrillation in light of guidelines and current evidence: an Italian Survey on behalf of Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing

AimAtrial fibrillation is a multifaceted disease requiring personalized treatment, in accordance with current ESC guidelines. Despite a wide range of literature, we still have various aspects dividing the opinion of the experts in rate control, rhythm control and thromboembolic prophylaxis. The aim of this survey was to provide a country-wide picture of current practice regarding atrial fibrillation pharmacological management according to a patient's characteristics.MethodsData were collected using an in-person survey that was administered to members of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing.ResultsWe collected data from 106 physicians, working in 72 Italian hospitals from 15 of 21 regions. Our work evidenced a high inhomogeneity in atrial fibrillation management regarding rhythm control, rate control and thromboembolic prophylaxis in both acute and chronic patients. This element was more pronounced in settings in which literature shows a lack of evidence and, consequently, the indications provided by the guidelines are weak or absent.ConclusionThis National survey evidenced a high inhomogeneity in current approaches adopted for atrial fibrillation management by a sample of Italian cardiologist experts in arrhythmia management. Further studies are needed to explore if these divergences are associated with different long-term outcomes

Percutaneous pericardiocentesis for pericardial effusion: predictors of mortality and outcomes

Pericardial effusion can dangerously precipitate patient’s hemodynamic stability and requires prompt intervention in case of tamponade. We investigated potential predictors of in-hospital mortality, a composite outcome of in-hospital mortality, pericardiocentesis-related complications, and the need for emergency cardiac surgery and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous pericardiocentesis. This is an observational, retrospective, single-center study on patients undergoing percutaneous pericardiocentesis (2010–2019). We enrolled 81 consecutive patients. Median age was 71.4 years (interquartile range [IQR] 58.1–78.1 years) and 51 (63%) were male. Most of the pericardiocentesis were performed in an urgency setting (76.5%) for cardiac tamponade (77.8%). The most common etiology was idiopathic (33.3%) followed by neoplastic (22.2%). In-hospital mortality was 14.8% while mortality during follow-up (mean 17.1 months) was 44.4%. Only hemodynamic instability (i.e., cardiogenic shock, hypotension refractory to fluid challenge therapy and inotropes) was associated with in-hospital mortality at the univariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] 7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.76–29.4). Non-neoplastic/non-idiopathic etiology and hemodynamic instability were associated with the composite outcome of in-hospital mortality, need for emergency cardiac surgery, or pericardiocentesis-related complications (OR 5.75, 95% CI 1.65–20.01, and OR 5.81, 95% CI 2.11–15.97, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for possible confounding variables (age, coronary artery disease, and hemodynamic instability) showed that neoplastic etiology was independently associated with medium-term mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 4.05, 95% CI 1.45–11.36). In a real-world population treated with pericardiocentesis for pericardial effusion, in-hospital adverse outcomes and medium-term mortality are consistent, in particular for patients presenting with hemodynamic instability or neoplastic pericardial effusion

Utilization of TREC and KREC quantification for the monitoring of early T- and B-cell neogenesis in adult patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: After hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) T- and B-cell reconstitution from primary lymphoid organs are a prerequisite for an effective early lymphocyte reconstitution and a long-term survival for adult patients suffering from acute leukemia. Here, we asked whether quantification of T cell receptor excision circle, (TREC) and kappa-deleting recombination excision circle (KREC) before and within six month after allogeneic HSCT could be used to measure the thymic and bone marrow outputs in such patients. METHODS: We used a duplex real time PCR assay to quantify the absolute copy counts of TREC and KREC, and correlated the data with absolute cell counts of CD3+CD4+ T-cell and CD19+ B-cell subsets determined by flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: By comparing two recently proposed naive T cell subsets, CD31+ naive and CD31- naive T cells, we found a better correlation for the CD31+ subset with TREC level post alloHSCT, in line with the assumption that it contained T cells recently derived from the thymus, indicating that TREC levels reflected real thymic de novo production. Transitional as well as naive B cells highly correlated with KREC levels, which suggested an association of KREC levels with ongoing bone marrow B cell output. CD45RO+ memory T cells and CD27+ memory B cells were significantly less correlated with TREC and KREC recovery, respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that simultaneous TREC/ KREC quantification is as a suitable and practicable method to monitor thymic and bone marrow output post alloHSCT in adult patients diagnosed with acute leukemia

Length of hospital stay for elective electrophysiological procedures: a survey from the European Heart Rhythm Association

AIMS: Electrophysiological (EP) operations that have traditionally involved long hospital lengths of stay (LOS) are now being undertaken as day case procedures. The coronavirus disease-19 pandemic served as an impetus for many centres to shorten LOS for EP procedures. This survey explores LOS for elective EP procedures in the modern era. METHODS AND RESULTS: An online survey consisting of 27 multiple-choice questions was completed by 245 respondents from 35 countries. With respect to de novo cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantations, day case procedures were reported for 79.5% of implantable loop recorders, 13.3% of pacemakers (PMs), 10.4% of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and 10.2% of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. With respect to CIED generator replacements, day case procedures were reported for 61.7% of PMs, 49.2% of ICDs, and 48.2% of CRT devices. With regard to ablations, day case procedures were reported for 5.7% of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablations, 10.7% of left-sided ablations, and 17.5% of right-sided ablations. A LOS ≥ 2 days for CIED implantation was reported for 47.7% of PM, 54.5% of ICDs, and 56.9% of CRT devices and for 54.5% of AF ablations, 42.2% of right-sided ablations, and 46.1% of left-sided ablations. Reimbursement (43-56%) and bed availability (20-47%) were reported to have no consistent impact on the organization of elective procedures. CONCLUSION: There is a wide variation in the LOS for elective EP procedures. The LOS for some procedures appears disproportionate to their complexity. Neither reimbursement nor bed availability consistently influenced LOS

Randomised controlled trial comparing efficacy and safety of high versus low Low-Molecular Weight Heparin dosages in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and coagulopathy not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (COVID-19 HD): a structured summary of a study protocol.

To assess whether high doses of Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) (i.e. Enoxaparin 70 IU/kg twice daily) compared to standard prophylactic dose (i.e., Enoxaparin 4000 IU once day), in hospitalized patients with COVID19 not requiring Invasive Mechanical Ventilation [IMV], are: a)more effective in preventing clinical worsening, defined as the occurrence of at least one of the following events, whichever comes first: 1.Death2.Acute Myocardial Infarction [AMI]3.Objectively confirmed, symptomatic arterial or venous thromboembolism [TE]4.Need of either: a.Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (Cpap) or Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) orb.IMV in patients who at randomisation were receiving standard oxygen therapy5.IMV in patients who at randomisation were receiving non-invasive mechanical ventilationb)Similar in terms of major bleeding risk TRIAL DESIGN: Multicentre, randomised controlled, superiority, open label, parallel group, two arms (1:1 ratio), in-hospital study