RESUMO

The photoelectrocatalytic reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) onto bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX, X = Cl, Br, I) was studied through physicochemical and photoelectrochemical measurements. The successful synthesis of the BiOX compounds was carried out through a solvothermal methodology and confirmed by XRD measurements. The morphology was analyzed by SEM; meanwhile, area and pore size were determined through BET area measurements. BiOI and BiOCl present a lower particle size (3.15 and 2.71 µm, respectively); however, the sponge-like morphology presented by BiOI results in an increase in the BET area, which can enhance the catalytic activity of this semiconductor. In addition, DRS measurements allowed us to determine bandgap values of 1.9, 2.4, and 3.6 eV for BiOI, BiOBr, and BiOCl, respectively. Such results predict better visible light harvesting for BiOI. Photoelectrochemical measurements indicated that BiOX shows p-type semiconductor behavior, being the holes the majority charge carriers, making BiOI the most active material to carry out photoelectrocatalytic CO2RR. In the second stage, three different composites, BiOI-Pd, BiOI-Cu, and BiOI-PdCu, (BiOI-M; M = Pd, Cu, PdCu), were fabricated to study the influence of active metal nanoparticles (NP's) in the BiOI CO2RR activity. XRD measurements confirmed the interaction between BiOI and the metallic NP's, the three composites overpassed by 20% the BET area of pristine BiOI. Photoelectrochemical measurements indicate that all BiOI-metal composites are suitable materials to perform CO2 reduction in neutral media efficiently; however, the BiOI-PdCu composites surpassed the faradaic current of BiOI-Pd and BiOI-Cu at 0.85 V vs. RHE (3.15, 2.06 and 2.15 mA cm-2, respectively). BiOI-PdCu presented photoactivity to carry out the CO2 reduction evolving formic acid and acetic acid as the main products under visible-light irradiation.

RESUMO

PURPOSE: Malignant chest wall tumors are rare in pediatrics. They require multimodal oncological treatment and local surgical control. Resections are extensive; therefore, thoracoplasty should be planned to protect intrathoracic organs, prevent herniation, future deformities, preserve ventilatory dynamics, and enable radiotherapy. METHODS: We present a case series of children with malignant chest wall tumors and our surgical experience with thoracoplasty using absorbable rib substitutes (BioBridge®), after local surgical control. BioBridge® is a copolymer made of a polylactide acid blend (70% L-lactic acid y 30% DL-lactide). RESULTS: In 2 years, we had three patients with malignant chest wall tumors. Resection margins were negative, without recurrence at follow-up. We achieved good cosmetic and functional results, and no postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Alternative reconstruction techniques such as absorbable rib substitutes provide protection, guarantee a flexible chest wall, and do not interfere with adjuvant radiotherapy. Currently, there are no management protocols in thoracoplasty. This option represents an excellent alternative for patients with chest wall tumors. Knowledge of different approaches and reconstructive principles is essential to offer children the best onco-surgical option.

Assuntos

Neoplasias , Parede Torácica , Toracoplastia , Humanos , Criança , Terapia Combinada , Costelas

RESUMO

Brazilian grain production increased more than fourfold from 1980 to 2016. The grain boom was achieved primarily by soybean-corn double cropping and cropland expansion-both show changing spatiotemporal patterns since the 1980s. Here, we quantified the contributions of these two strategies to corn and soybean production in Brazil using municipality-level data from 1980 to 2016. We found the contribution of double cropping to the grain boom steadily increased to 35% and the largest driving force was the increasing demand for grain export. While double cropping dominated the conventional agricultural regions, cropland expansion was still the major strategy in agricultural frontiers such as the Centre-West and Matopiba. The implementation of double cropping offset the equivalent of 76.7 million ha of Brazilian arable land for grain production from 2003 to 2016. Double cropping in Brazil has the potential to help alleviate land burdens in other pantropical countries with increasing global food demand.

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Bipolar I disorder (BD-I) is a chronic illness characterized by relapses alternating with periods of remission. Pharmacists can contribute to improved health outcomes in these patients through pharmaceutical care in association with a multidisciplinary health team; however, more evidence derived from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is needed to demonstrate the effect of pharmaceutical care on patients with BD-I. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical intervention using the Dader Method on patients with BD-I, measured by the decrease in the number of hospitalizations, emergency service consultations, and unscheduled outpatient visits from baseline through 1 year of follow-up. METHODS: This study is based on the EMDADER-TAB trial, which was an RCT designed to compare pharmaceutical care with the usual care given to outpatients with BD-I in a psychiatric clinic. The main outcome was the use of health care services, using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression. The trial protocol was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier NCT01750255). RESULTS: 92 patients were included in the EMDADER-TAB study: 43 pharmaceutical care patients (intervention group) and 49 usual care patients (control group). At baseline, no significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics were found across the 2 groups. After 1 year of follow-up, the risk of hospitalizations and emergencies was higher for the control group than for the intervention group (HR = 9.03, P = 0.042; HR = 3.38, P = 0.034, respectively); however, the risk of unscheduled outpatient visits was higher for the intervention group (HR = 4.18, P = 0.028). There was no "placebo" treatment, and patients in the control group might have produced positive outcomes and reduced the magnitude of differences compared with the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with usual care, pharmaceutical care significantly reduced hospitalizations and emergency service consultations by outpatients with BD-I. DISCLOSURES: This study received funding from the Universidad de Antioquia, Committee for Development Research and Sustainability Program, CODI, (2013-2014 and 2014-2015). Humax Pharmaceutical provided support for the initial development of the EMDADER-TAB trial without commercial interest in the outcomes derived from the trial. Salazar-Ospina reports grants from Credito Beca Francisco José de Caldas Scholarship for Doctoral Programs (528), which also contributed to the support of this study. González-Avendaño is an employee of Humax Pharmaceutical. The other authors have nothing to disclose. Study concept and design were contributed by Benjumea, Faus, and Rodriguez, along with Salazar-Ospina and Amariles. Salazar-Ospina took the lead in data collection, assisted by González-Avendaño, and data interpretation was performed by Salazar-Ospina, Hincapié-García, and González-Avendaño. The manuscript was written primarily by Salazar-Ospina, with assistance from Amariles and González-Avendaño, and revised by all the authors.

Assuntos

Transtorno Bipolar/tratamento farmacológico , Assistência Farmacêutica , Adulto , Feminino , Hospitalização , Humanos , Masculino , Pacientes Ambulatoriais , Farmacêuticos , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Bipolar I disorder (BD-I) is a chronic mental illness characterized by the presence of one or more manic episodes, or both depressive and manic episodes, usually separated by asymptomatic intervals. Pharmacists can contribute to the management of BD-I, mainly with the use of effective and safe drugs, and improve the patient's life quality through pharmaceutical care. Some studies have shown the effect of pharmaceutical care in the achievement of therapeutic goals in different illnesses; however, to our knowledge, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials designed to assess the effect of pharmacist intervention in patients with BD. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the Dader Method for pharmaceutical care in patients with BD-I. METHODS/DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, prospective, single-center clinical trial with duration of 12 months will be performed to compare the effect of Dader Method of pharmaceutical care with the usual care process of patients in a psychiatric clinic. Patients diagnosed with BD-I aged between 18 and 65 years who have been discharged or referred from outpatients service of the San Juan de Dios Clinic (Antioquia, Colombia) will be included. Patients will be randomized into the intervention group who will receive pharmaceutical care provided by pharmacists working in collaboration with psychiatrists, or into the control group who will receive usual care and verbal-written counseling regarding BD. Study outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after randomization. The primary outcome will be to measure the number of hospitalizations, emergency service consultations, and unscheduled outpatient visits. Effectiveness, safety, adherence, and quality of life will be assessed as secondary outcomes. Statistical analyses will be performed using two-tailed McNemar tests, Pearson chi-square tests, and Student's t-tests; a P value <0.05 will be considered as statistically significant. DISCUSSION: As far as we know, this is the first randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of the Dader Method for pharmaceutical care in patients with BD-I and it could generate valuable information and recommendations about the role of pharmacists in the improvement of therapeutic goals, solution of drug-related problems, and adherence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number NCT01750255 on August 6, 2012. First patient randomized on 24 November 2011.

Assuntos

Antipsicóticos/uso terapêutico , Transtorno Bipolar/tratamento farmacológico , Serviços Comunitários de Farmácia , Projetos de Pesquisa , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Antipsicóticos/efeitos adversos , Transtorno Bipolar/diagnóstico , Transtorno Bipolar/psicologia , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Protocolos Clínicos , Colômbia , Comportamento Cooperativo , Feminino , Humanos , Comunicação Interdisciplinar , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pacientes Ambulatoriais , Estudos Prospectivos , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto Jovem

RESUMO

Se realizó u estudio experimental en caninos con el fin de comparar las alteraciones histológicas y clínicas con dos técnicas de reconstucción del ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) en esqueleto inmaduro. Fueron intervenidos 16 perros criollos entre 2 y 3 meses de edad. Luego de la resección completa del LCA, éste fue reconstruido con autoinjerto de fascia lata. Los perros se dividieron en 2 grupos de estudio de 8 cada uno. En el grupo (A) el LCA fue reconstruido con el paso del autoinjerto de fascia lata a través del túneles transfisiarios, mientras en el grupo (B) se realizó la técnica ®sobre el cóndilo¼ sin túneles transfisiarios. 4 perros de cada grupo se sacrificaron a las 6 y 12 semanas de cirugía. Se realizó un análisis histomorfométrico midiendo el espesor fisiario, la presencia o no de puentes óseos y la pérdida del patrón celular en la fisis. Estos parámetros fueron comparados con sus controles contralaterales. La longitud de fémur, tibia y extremidad total fue medida y comparada con los controles contralaterales a las 6 y 12 semanas de cirugía. Los resultados fueron comparados por un análisis pareado T-test y un análisis de varianza de 2 vías, como tambien los resultados normalizados comparando las diferencias entre las exptremidades intervenidas y sus controles. El promedio de reducción en el espesor fisiario entre la 6a y 12a semanas fue significativamente mayor en los especímenes operados con túneles transfisiarios, sugiriendo un efecto inductor del cierre fisiario. El promedio de reducción del cierre fisiario fue menor en las extremidades intervenidas con la técnica ®sobre el cóndilo¼ al compararlas con sus controles, sugiriendo un efecto inhibitorio en el cierre fisiario, debido probablemente a un efecto externo sobre la fisis. Tanto en las tibias con técnica ®sobre el cóndilo¼ como en las tunelizadas se encontró una mayor reducción del espesor fisiario en el punto externo de medición, sugiriendo un cierre más rápido de la fisis en este sitio. Este efecto podría generar una deformidad angular con el tiempo, utilizando ambas técnicas. No encontramos discrepancia de longitud entre los grupos a las 12 semanas de cirugía, ni una correlación con los hallazgos histológicos. Los cambios significativos en el espesor fisiario, patrón celular y cierre fisiario nos llevan a colcluir que una alteración de la fisis con ambas técnicas de reconstrucción de LCA

Assuntos

Humanos , Pré-Escolar , Criança , Ligamento Cruzado Anterior/anatomia & histologia , Ligamento Cruzado Anterior/cirurgia , Articulação do Joelho/anatomia & histologia , Articulação do Joelho/anormalidades , Articulação do Joelho/cirurgia

RESUMO

The leaves of PILOCARPUS GOUDOTIANUS afforded in addition to eight known coumarins three new ones, donatin, alloxanthoxyletol, and (+)-elisin. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence and chemical derivatives.