The effectiveness of intervention by speech therapy in vocal fold paralysis: Objective assessment

Objectivos: Analisar os resultados atingidos por um grupo de pacientes com paralisia da corda vocal, usando medidas de avaliação objectivas, antes e após intervenção de Terapia da Fala. Materiais e Métodos: Análise retrospectiva dos resultados obtidos por um grupo de 38 pacientes com paralisia da corda vocal submetidos à intervenção da área de Terapia da Fala, num Hospital Central. Resultados: O tipo de paralisias foi variável, sendo que a maioria dos sujeitos apresentava paralisia unilateral, em posição paramediana. As diferenças de resultados dos parâmetros jitter, shimmer e NNE revelaram-se significativas (p < 0,05). O número médio de consultas de Terapia da Fala necessárias foi de 13,29±7,95. Conclusões: A intervenção de Terapia da Fala em casos de paralisia da corda vocal iniciada precocemente é eficaz, evitando-se assim que os pacientes fossem submetidos a procedimentos cirúrgicos, já que apresentam melhoras significativas da qualidade da voz com a intervenção terapêutica.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Freshness assessment and shelf-life prediction for Seriola dumerili from aquaculture based on the quality index method

Fish and fish-based products are easily perishable foods due to different factors, including fragile organization, abundant endo-enzymes, psychrophilic bacteria, and impact of pre-harvest operations, that contribute to reducing its value. Therefore, a timely effective method for fish freshness and shelf-life evaluation is important. In this context, this study aimed to develop a sensory scheme based on the Quality Index Method (QIM) (sensory table and point system) for freshness monitorization and shelf-life prediction for Seriola dumerili from aquaculture in Madeira Island. Evaluation of appearance, texture, eyes, and gills was performed during 20 days of storage on ice (0 ± 1 ◦C). The shelf-life prediction was supported by the analysis of microorganisms (total viable colonies, TVC, counts), texture (Torrymeter), and production of trimethylamine (TMA), evaluated by HS-SPME–GC–MS and validated according to Association of Official Analytical Chemists AOAC guidelines. The result is a QIM scheme with 25 demerit points, where zero indicates total freshness. From the integration of sensory analysis, microbial growth at the time of rejection (TVC, 108 cfu/cm2 and H2S producers, 107 cfu/cm2 ), texture (Torrymeter value 12.5 mg/100 g), shelf-life was estimated as 12 days (±0.5 days). The obtained results show the high-throughput potential of the developed method for fish freshness assessment and shelf-life prediction. This QIM scheme is a secure way to measure quality and provide users with a reliable standardized fish freshness measure.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quality Index Method for fish quality control: Understanding the applications, the appointed limits and the upcoming trends

Background: The Quality Index Method (QIM) is a widely used approach for fish sensory grading, based on a structured scaling for freshness measurements, providing information concerning the fish freshness status, as a prediction of the remaining shelf-life for specific species or products. However, its tendency to be used in an oversimplified way and other common misapplications could lead to discredit of a methodology with great potential. Scope and approach: Review the principles of QIM methodology, discussing its concept, applications, and un derstand their limits, as a useful strategy to propose improvements, reinforce its predictive power and consequent acceptability. Key findings and conclusions: QIM methodology is based on a compromise between the number of fish samples necessary and the number of attributes, with sensory relevance in fish spoilage, that allows verifying if quality requirements are fulfilled. However, the assumptions inherent to the method, undermine the reliability of the shelf-life predictions. Determination of the variability associated with assessors, product, and correct structure of datasets for statistical analysis, will improve the predictive power of the method. However, it could lead to an increase in the method complexity that would drive it away from the industry’s needs for fast and easily implemented methods.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

From aquaculture production to consumption: freshness, safety, traceability and authentication, the four pillars of quality

Farmed aquatic products are among the most widely traded commodities and one of the sectors with the fastest growth in the last years. However, aquaculture is still affected by negative connotations in comparison with other agroindustry sectors. Markets, consumer preferences and concerns about food safety and sustainability are influencing the growth of the sector and are forcing the implementation of quality management systems. Modern management systems help to minimize the environmental impacts and the distribution of unsafe or poor-quality products, thereby reducing the potential for bad image, liability and recalls. This article presents a compre hensive overview of the status, relevance, and impact of the quality management systems in the development of marine aquaculture, with the focus on four of the most important criteria associated with these systems: freshness, safety, traceability, and authenticity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improved approach based on MALDI-TOF MS for establishment of the fish mucus protein pattern for geographic discrimination of Sparus aurata

Food fraud is still a recurrent practice throughout food supply chains. In the case of seafood, misidentification of species and products repackaging constitute the most common frauds. Therefore, the development of appropriate analytical approaches to be used against food fraud is necessary. The present study goal is to explore for the first time, the possibility to differentiate between Sparus aurata from two different mariculture farms located in Madeira Island (Caniçal and Ribeira Brava), using the mass fingerprint of fish mucus obtained from MALDI-TOF MS and analyzed using Mass-UP software for multivariate statistical analysis and biomarker identification. It was possible to establish, from the mucus protein fraction, a set of potential biomarkers for each location in a total of 35 peaks, being 17 peaks specific to Caniçal located farm and 18 to Ribeira Brava. The proposed analytical approach revealed a useful strategy providing accurate and fast results for fish geographical origin discrimination.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predictors of survival and technical success of bronchoscopic interventions in malignant airway obstruction

Background: Malignant airway obstruction (MAO) leads to quality of life impairment and increased mortality. Interventional bronchoscopy allows airway patency restoring, leading to a better survival. We investigated predictors of survival and successful bronchoscopic intervention among MAO patients. Methods: This observational prospective study enrolled 100 patients who were newly diagnosed with MAO. Survival was estimated with Kaplan-Meier method and curves compared by log-rank test. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazard models. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used for odds ratio calculation. Results: A proportion of 73% of the patients were male with a median age was 62.5 years (range, 21–88 years). Lung cancer was the most common primary malignancy (74%). The majority had single (61%), endoluminal (62%) lesions and were classified as grade III in Myer Cotton scale (57%). The most used techniques comprised mechanical debulking (n=81) and laser therapy (n=68). Twenty-two airway stents were placed. While eleven patients were considered untreatable, technical success was achieved in 78%. Haemorrhage was the most common acute complication (16%). No deaths occurred as a result of the procedure. Median global survival was 8 months. Adjusting for age and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG), extrinsic compression or mixed airway obstructions [hazard ratio (HR) =2.075; P=0.012], successful bronchoscopic intervention (HR =0.468; P=0.025) and initiation of cancer treatment (HR =0.373; P=0.006) were independent predictors of survival. The absence of distal airway patency on thoracic CT was independently associated with failure of the intervention [odds ratio (OR) =0.013; P<0.001]. Conclusions: Interventional bronchoscopy has proven to be an efficient and safe strategy to manage MAO patients. The patients who benefit the most in terms of survival are those with purely endoluminal lesions, in whom technical success was achieved and those whose cancer-specific treatment was initiated. Distal airway patency on thoracic CT predicts the technical success of bronchoscopic intervention