Effectiveness of edible coatings combined with mild heat shocks on microbial spoilage and sensory quality of fresh cut broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.).

UNLABELLED: The use of edible coatings and mild heat shocks is proposed as postharvest treatments to prevent microbial deterioration of refrigerated broccoli. Minimally processed broccoli was coated with either chitosan or carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) combined or not with a previous application of a mild heat shock. The evolution of microbial populations (mesophilic, psycrotrophic, Enterobacteriaceae, molds and yeast, and lactic acid bacteria) was studied during 20 d of storage and fitted to Gompertz and logistic models. Results revealed that, at the end of the storage, chitosan coating significantly reduced all microbiological population counts, except lactic acid bacteria; while higher reduction was observed with chitosan coating combined with a heat shock treatment. A significant delay at the beginning of the exponential phase was observed for all the bacterial populations analyzed. On the other hand, CMC coating, with and without a previous thermal treatment, did not exert any antibacterial effect. Excellent agreement was found between experimental microbial counts and predicted values obtained from Gompertz and logistic models. Kinetic modeling was found to be valuable for prediction of microbiological shelf life of broccoli during storage. Results showed that the application of chitosan coating effectively maintained microbiological quality and extended shelf life of minimally processed broccoli. According to these results, the use of the edible chitosan coating alone or in combination with a heat mild shock appear to be a viable alternative for controlling microbiological growth and sensory attributes in minimally processed broccoli. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The continuous consumer interest in high quality and food safety, combined with environmental concern has induced to the development and study of edible coatings that avoid the use of synthetic materials. The edible coatings, formed from generally recognized as safe materials, have the potential to reduce weight loss, respiration rate, and improve food appearance and integrity. It is one of the most effective methods to maintain food quality. On the other hand, heat treatments have been demonstrated to be effective as a nonchemical means of improving postharvest quality for a variety of horticultural products. The applications of mild heat shocks combined with edible coatings constitute an alternative for the natural preservation of crops for which the use of synthetic chemicals is objectionable.

[Use of cryotherapy in the Rochapea Health Centre]. / Utilización de crioterapia en el Centro de Salud de Rochapea.

An analysis is made of the results obtained with the application of cryotherapy to 128 lesions: 86 common warts and 42 flat papillomas, of the 203 diagnosed in the Rochapea Health Centre in the period between October 1996 and June 30th 1997. 55.28% corresponded to warts located on the upper extremities, 34.78% were located on the head and neck, 8.07% on the lower extremities and 1.24% on the thorax. The percentage of flat papillomas was 20.68%. 2.96 sessions were needed to cure each lesion, with an average length of treatment of 42 days. No cases of postcryotherapy infection were registered and there was only one retarded complication, which was the appearance of a keloid scar. We conclude from the present study that cryotherapy is a good treatment for common warts and flat papillomas.

[Delegated prescription by specialists in primary care]. / Prescripción delegada por especialistas en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the qualitative-quantitative features of Primary Care prescriptions originated by specialists. DESIGN: A crossover descriptive study. SETTING: Txantrea Health Centre (Pamplona). PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: All the prescriptions originated by out-clinic or hospital specialists over a two-month period, in three Health Centre clinics. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The number of prescriptions passed on to Primary Care was 3,009, costing 5,303,071 pesetas, which was 31.61% of the drugs prescribed and 38.08% of the pharmaceutical expenditure of the three clinics during the period under study. 65.88% of the prescriptions corresponded to out-clinic specialists and 34.11% to hospital specialists. They were not accompanied by a clinical note, the treatment and the length of treatment in 33.46%, 36.55% and 45.39% of cases, respectively. The group and sub-group with most prescriptions passed on were Cardiovascular Apparatus and Calcium antagonists. The commonest active principal was acetylsalicylic acid. 79.89% were taken orally, 88.20% were single drugs and 73.28% of the medicines had high intrinsic value. CONCLUSIONS: An important proportion of Primary Care's pharmaceutical expenditure was identified as originating with specialists. There was scant information given for following up the patients. Improvement of communication between different care levels on the basis of common procedures and objectives would be a useful step towards better quality of care.

Desogestrel-ethinylestradiol, an oral monophasic contraceptive. Clinical and lipid metabolic effects: a 5-year experience.

A comparative study of 5 years' duration using desogestrel (DSG), levonorgestrel (LN), and norethindrone (NET), combined with ethinyl estradiol (EE), was conducted. A total of 4499 cycles on DSG-EE, 3691 on LN-EE (1980 on triphasic and 1711 on monophasic schemes) and 1680 on NET-EE was evaluated. A contraceptive efficacy of 100% was obtained in all the groups. Minimal side effects were observed. In particular, body weight in those women on DSG-EE did not show noticeable changes and headaches were minimal. No alterations on blood pressure readings or on the routine laboratory tests were noticed in any of the groups. There was a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein-c (HDL-c) in women on DSG-EE. There was no change in NET-EE, and a significant decrease in women on LN-EE in both schemes. Changes in LDL-C, very low density lipoproteins, triglycerides, total lipids, total cholesterol, and glucose were not significant, although there was some increase at 60 cycles on triglycerides on those women on DSG-EE and on NET-EE. At the end of 5 years, 76% of women continued on DSG-EE. They indicated their satisfaction with this method.

[Calcium lonazolac and blood loss in users of intrauterine devices. Preliminary report]. / Lonazolac cálcico y pérdida sanguínea en usuarias de dispositivos intrauterinos. Informe preliminar.

PIP: 3 groups of IUD users participated in a preliminary study to evaluate the effect of calcium lonazolac, a nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent, on excessive menstrual bleeding. All participants were parous women aged 20-30 years in good health. Multiload 250 IUDs were inserted in 15 women averaging 24.5 years of age. They were also supplied with calcium lonazolac tablets in 200 mg doses to be taken continuously 3 times daily. 15 women averaging 26.1 years also had multiload 250 IUDs inserted. They were given the same instructions but their medication was a placebo. A third group of 30 women averaging 26.2 years of age who had experienced heavy bleeding during 6-36 months of IUD use were given 200 mg tablets of calcium lonazolac to be taken 3 times daily. The 30 women used various types of IUDs. All 60 women were provided with sanitary pads to be returned at their regular clinic visits. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were also determined at each visit. The method of Hallberg and Nilsson was used to measure menstrual blood loss. There were no significant changes in the volume or duration of bleeding or hemoglobin or hematocrit levels in the 15 women given the drug. The 15 women given the placebo had a significant increase in the quantity of blood loss and a significant increase in the duration bleeding in the 3rd month. The 30 women with histories of heavy bleeding had significant decreases in volume and duration of bleeding. Modifications in hemoglobin were not especially significant, while the hematocrit levels increased in the 2nd and 3rd months. None of the women reported significant side effects except 1 woman with a prior history of gastritis. Her gastric distress was controlled by an antacid after meals for 1 week. Comparison of results between the treated and control groups suggests that calcium lonazolac gives good results. Its use should be evaluated at lower doses with consumption limited to days of bleeding only.^ieng

Experience with a new low dose oral contraceptive: norgestimate & ethinyl estradiol.

Experience with cyclic administration of 0.125 mg of norgestimate plus 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol indicates that this new combined oral contraceptive is clinically effective and well tolerated. There were no unintended pregnancies in 3,026 cycles of use among 161 women. Patient acceptability of a relatively high cycle incidence of spotting (16.7%) was remarkable; only five patients withdrew from the study because of this irregularity. Breakthrough bleeding was infrequent (0.9% of total cycles). No other side effects were reported and amenorrheic cycles were not observed. In particular there were no complaints of gastrointestinal disturbance. Weight remained unusually stable. Laboratory findings remained within normal limits over 6 months of drug use. However, serum cholesterol and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels declined and protein bound iodine increased significantly from pre-treatment levels.

PIP: A clinical investigation was conducted to test and evaluate a new low-dose oral contraceptive, a combination produce containing 0.125 mg of norgestimate and 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol, developed with a view to minimizing extragonadal effects. Of the 161 fertile women observed during 3062 menstrual cycles, 91 were 'fresh' subjects, 70 were 'switch' subjects. No pregnancies occurred. The average number of cycle days remained almost constant. There was a decrease in the number of days of flow in 55.7, an increase in 9.7, and no change in 34.5% of all treatment cycles. The amount of menstrual flow decreased in 33.8, increased in 11.2, and remained moderate in 61.6% of all cycles. The incidence of spotting was relatively high -- 79.5% of all subjects in 16.7% of all cycles. Breakthrough bleeding was insignificant. Dysmenorrhea and premenstrual tension, which had been reported in 24.4 and 58.3% of pre-treatment cycles respectively, diminished. No incidents of amenorrhea or gastrointinal disturbance were reported. The laboratory findings included the following significant results: 1) a decrease in serum cholesterol from 188.90 to 180.98 mg/100 ml at 6 months; 2) a reduction in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase; and 3) an expected rise in protein bound iodine.

[Effects of lynestrenol used singly in low doses, as a contraceptive]. / Efectos del linestrenol utilizado solo a dósis baja, como anticonceptivo

PIP: The effects of lynestrenol, administered continuously in the dose of .5 mg/day, were studied in 50 women during 1146 menstrual cycles. 45 patients completed 24 cycles each. Before treatment and every 6 cycles all patients were subjected to questioning, physical examination, cytological, blood and urea nitrogen tests and urinalysis. 50% were also subjected to hepatic function tests (sulfobromophtalein excretion, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, cephalin-cholesterol flocculation) and endometrial biopsies every 6 cycles. Subjective side effects were absent and weight and blood pressure remained unchanged. Laboratory tests and cytological studies showed normal results. Only 14% of the biopsies performed showed interferen ce with the normal hormonal transformation of the endometrium. The average duration of menstruation was 4-5 days; 7% of all cycles were shortened by 5-10 days and .2% by 11-14 days. 7% of the cycles were prolonged by 5-10 days and .8% by 11-20 days. Amenorrhea was present in .4% of the cycles. Irregular bleeding (either spotting or breakthrough bleeding) was present in 14% of the cycles. 6 patients (12%) stopped the treatment for this reason. It is concluded that the preparation studied is effective and very well tolerated. Patients must be advised regarding the possibility of irregularities in the menstrual cycle, the efficacy of the drug and the absence of other unwanted side effects, to decrease the dropout rate.^ieng

[A parenteral monthly contraceptive (preliminary report)]. / Un anticonceptivo mensual parenteral (comunicación preliminar.

PIP: 100 volunteer patients of proven fertility were treated with a monthly injection of a mixture of 5 mg of estradiol cipionate and 25 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate for approximately 1 year covering 1108 cycles. The contraceptive effectiveness of the drug was very satisfactory (0 pregnancies). Menstrual cycle alterations occur in the first 6 months of treatment, bleeding becomes spotting, cycles become longer, and amenorrhea follows in a number of cases. However, it is les s prolonged and frequent thatn when progestogen alone is used. Changes were found in vaginal cytology and endometrial histology. Only 7 of 100 patients discontinued the treatment, and side effects other than those related to the menstrual cycle were minimal and apparently of little significance. The findings suggest that research on these substances should continue.^ieng