Anionic bio-flocculants from sugarcane for purification of sucrose: An application of circular bioeconomy.

In sugar production, polyacrylamide-based anionic flocculants are added for juice treatment, the main objective being to remove impurities that affect the quality of the sugar. However, if they remain in the final product, those polymers can present carcinogenic and neurotoxic actions besides contaminating the soils where the waste is discharged. To overcome this problem, the present study proposes, for the first time, natural flocculants based on cellulose obtained from sugarcane bagasse (residue from sugarcane processing) as substitutes for the flocculants based on polyacrylamide, normally used in sugar cane juice purification. Additionally, cellulose-based flocculants obtained from Acacia wood, developed in a previous study, have also been tested for sugar juice treatment. Acacia wood and sugarcane bagasse were first treated with a choline chloride/levulinic acid solution in a molar ratio of 1:2, at 160 °C, for 4 h. Subsequently, the cellulose-rich samples were modified by a two-stage process (oxidation with sodium periodate followed by reaction with sodium metabisulfite), and polyelectrolytes with different characteristics were produced. The final products obtained were characterized, and their performance in the treatment of sugarcane juice, at different concentrations (10, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg kg-1), was evaluated and compared to the synthetic commercial flocculant (Flonex, based on polyacrylamide) usually used by the sugarcane industry in Brazil. The substitution of petrol-based flocculants by natural-based ones, obtained from sugarcane residues, is presented for the first time in this study, with very relevant performance of the new flocculants. Overall, it was possible to produce anionic flocculants, modifying the cellulose obtained from different raw materials, which showed good results in the purification of sucrose, when compared with the commercial polyacrylamide normally used. It is also important to stress that, for the first time, a residue from sugarcane industry could be used with success in the purification of the sugar juice itself, which constitutes a major novelty.

Fatores relacionados a múltiplas consultas de urgência e internação hospitalar devido à descompensação asmática em pacientes adultos / Factors related to multiple urgent consultations and hospitalization due to asthmatic decompensation in adult patients

Introdução: A asma é caracterizada por inflamação crônica das vias aéreas. Exacerbações são episódios de aumento de sintomas e deterioração da função pulmonar. Objetivo: Avaliar fatores relacionados a múltiplas idas à emergência e internação por exacerbação asmática. Métodos: Estudo transversal, retrospectivo e analítico. Analisamos prontuários de pacientes adultos que foram atendidos no pronto-socorro (PS) por duas ou mais vezes em 2019 e receberam diagnóstico de asma. Os pacientes foram divididos em grupos de acordo com o número de idas a emergência: 2 ou 3 vezes (grupo A), e mais de 4 vezes (grupo B). Posteriormente foram divididos nos grupos Internação Hospitalar (IH) e Não Internação Hospitalar (NIH). Resultados: Gênero feminino correspondeu a 74% dos pacientes, e infecção bacteriana foi o fator desencadeante mais relatado. No grupo A, 67% não fazia acompanhamento ambulatorial regular; e no grupo B, 75% não o fazia. No grupo A, 37% usava corticoide inalatório em dose alta versus 75% do grupo B. Corticoide inalatório em dose alta foi associado ao risco de quatro ou mais idas ao PS. Foram internados 19% dos pacientes (grupo IH). Procuraram quatro vezes ou mais o PS por asma 29% dos pacientes IH, e 7% dos NIH. Usavam corticoide inalatório em altas doses 86% dos pacientes IH, e 31% dos NIH. No grupo IH, 50% apresentava distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo moderado, contra apenas 8% do NIH. Múltiplas idas ao PS, CI dose alta e distúrbio ventilatório moderado foram associados à internação hospitalar. Conclusão: Múltiplas idas ao PS por asma em pacientes adultos tiveram correlação com a falta de acompanhamento ambulatorial, infecções bacterianas e uso de medicações em altas doses. Foram fatores de risco para a internação hospitalar: quatro ou mais idas ao PS e asma grave.

Introduction: Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways. Exacerbations are episodes of increased symptoms and deterioration of lung function. Objective: To evaluate factors related to multiple visits to the emergency room (ER) and hospitalization due to asthmatic exacerbation. Methods: In this cross-sectional, retrospective, and analytical study, we analyzed medical records of adult patients who were seen at the ER at least twice in 2019 and were diagnosed with asthma. The patients were divided into groups according to the number of emergency visits: 2 or 3 times (group A) and 4 times or over (group B). Subsequently, they were divided into groups hospitalization (H) and no hospitalization (NH). Results: Seventy-four percent of patients were female, and bacterial infection was the most reported triggering factor. Lack of regular outpatient follow-up was found in 67% of patients in group A and 75% in group B. In group A, 37% used high-dose inhaled corticosteroids versus 75% in group B. High-dose inhaled corticosteroids were associated with a risk of 4 visits or over to the ER. Nineteen percent of patients were hospitalized (group H). Twenty-nine percent of group H and 7% of group NH sought the ER four times or over for asthma. Eightysix percent of group H and 31% of group NH used high-dose inhaled corticosteroids. In group H, 50% had moderate obstructive ventilatory impairment, compared to only 8% in group NH. Multiple visits to the ER, high-dose inhaled corticosteroids, and moderate ventilatory impairment were associated with hospitalization. Conclusion: Multiple visits to the ER for asthma in adult patients correlated with lack of outpatient follow-up, bacterial infections, and use of high-dose medications. Four visits or over to the ER and severe asthma were found to be risk factors for hospitalization.

Evaluation of surgical margins according to the histological type of basal cell carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical margin of basal cell carcinoma and correlate this with its histologic subtype. A retrospective analysis of pathology laboratory records from 1990 to 2000 was performed and the following data was collected: age, sex, race, anatomical location, histological type, and state of the excision margins in 1,428 histopathological reports of basal cell carcinoma. Ages ranged from 6 to 99 years, with an average of 57. There was a slight predominance of lesions in white women patients, and the most common histological subtype was the nodular, followed by the superficial. The most common locations were in the head and neck, with highest prevalence appeared in the nose. Surgical margins revealed a lateral involvement of 20.14% and a deep involvement of 12.47%. The fibrosing basal cell carcinoma is the histological type that most often presented positive surgical margins.

Evaluation of surgical margins according to the histological type of basal cell carcinoma

Abstract: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical margin of basal cell carcinoma and correlate this with its histologic subtype. A retrospective analysis of pathology laboratory records from 1990 to 2000 was performed and the following data was collected: age, sex, race, anatomical location, histological type, and state of the excision margins in 1,428 histopathological reports of basal cell carcinoma. Ages ranged from 6 to 99 years, with an average of 57. There was a slight predominance of lesions in white women patients, and the most common histological subtype was the nodular, followed by the superficial. The most common locations were in the head and neck, with highest prevalence appeared in the nose. Surgical margins revealed a lateral involvement of 20.14% and a deep involvement of 12.47%. The fibrosing basal cell carcinoma is the histological type that most often presented positive surgical margins.