Evaluating the Drought Tolerance of Seven Potato Varieties on Volcanic Ash Soils in a Medium-Term Trial.

One of the main factors limiting the productivity of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) is water stress. Two irrigation systems: full irrigation (I) and rainfed conditions (R), were compared over the growing seasons from 2012-13 to 2019-20. The evaluated varieties were Desiree, Karú-INIA, Patagonia-INIA, Puyehue-INIA, Yagana-INIA, Yaike, and Porvenir. This study determined (i) the yield and tuber size distribution, (ii) their relationship between productivity and environmental conditions, and (iii) the most drought-tolerant varieties based on drought tolerance indices. Nine indices including yield index (YI), tolerance index (TOL), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), harmonic mean (Harm), stress tolerance index (STI), harmonic mean productivity (HMP), yield reduction (Yr), and stress susceptible index (SSI) were calculated by using tuber yield under I and R conditions. Tuber yield under R conditions decreased by 27 and 34%. However, the highest yield under R conditions occurred in years with more precipitation between 60 and 120 days after planting (DAP; ±60 mm). Under R conditions, the varieties Porvenir, Patagonia-INIA, Yaike, and Puyehue-INIA showed more tolerance to water stress. Water stress negatively affected tuber size distribution, reducing the production of tubers with size >65 mm by 50-60%. The best indices to study drought tolerance were TOL, MP, GMP, Harm, STI, and HMP. This study suggests that in southern Chile, an area with big yield potential, typically cultivated as rainfed, with cool temperate climate conditions and favorable soil properties for potatoes, as Andisols, available rainfall is still a constraint for yield. Therefore, using more water stress-tolerant varieties and providing supplementary irrigation between 60 and 120 DAP are critical to optimize yield and avoid the failure of the crop in years with remarkably low precipitations, which will be more pronounced in the future according to weather trends. These results exemplify how much we can lose in productivity in rainfed conditions even in one of the most favorable areas for growing potatoes in the world and how risky this situation can be for the performance of the potato farms in the future.

Rescue therapy for severe COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome with tissue plasminogen activator: A case series.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unprecedented stresses on modern medical systems, overwhelming the resource infrastructure in numerous countries while presenting a unique series of pathophysiologic clinical findings. Thrombotic coagulopathy is common in critically ill patients suffering from COVID-19, with associated high rates of respiratory failure requiring prolonged periods of mechanical ventilation. Here, we report a case series of five patients suffering from profound, medically refractory COVID-19-associated respiratory failure who were treated with fibrinolytic therapy using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA; alteplase). All five patients appeared to have an improved respiratory status following tPA administration: one patient had an initial marked improvement that partially regressed after several hours, one patient had transient improvements that were not sustained, and three patients had sustained clinical improvements following tPA administration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level V.

Microencapsulation of Anthocyanin Extracted from Purple Flesh Cultivated Potatoes by Spray Drying and Its Effects on In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion.

Purple flesh cultivated potato (PP) is a foodstuff scarcely cultivated in the world but with high potential because of its anthocyanin content. Moreover, it has been little explored as a source of anthocyanins (AT) for further applications in formulated food products. The main goal of this research was to study the effect of maltodextrin (MD) and spray drying conditions on the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and bioaccesibility of AT from purple flesh cultivated potato extract (PPE). The anthocyanin-rich extract was obtained from PP and microencapsulated by spray-drying, using MD as the encapsulating agent. A statistical optimization approach was used to obtain optimal microencapsulation conditions. The PPE microparticles obtained under optimal conditions showed 86% of EE. The protector effect of microencapsulation on AT was observed to be stable during storage and in vitro digestion. The AT degradation rate constant was significantly lower for the PPE-MD than for the PPE. The assessed bioaccesibility of AT from the PPE-MD was 20% higher than that of the PPE, which could be explained by the protective effect of encapsulation against environmental conditions. In conclusion, microencapsulation is an effective strategy to protect AT from PP, suggesting that AT may be an alternative as a stable colorant for use in the food industry.

Thermal Radiofrequency Ablation of the Articular Branch of the Lateral Pectoral Nerve: A Case Report and Novel Technique.

The lateral pectoral nerve (LPN) innervates anterior shoulder structures. We report a novel technique for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the articular branch of the LPN (abLPN) to treat persistent anterior shoulder pain. Ultrasound and fluoroscopy were used to identify bony and vascular landmarks to target the midlateral and superior-lateral coracoid process (CP). Multiple thermal RFA lesions were delivered along this location without complication using a 20-gauge cannula. As a result, the patient has continued substantial relief of resting and dynamic deep anterior shoulder pain beyond 3 months. Ablation of the abLPN may provide anterior shoulder analgesia without causing motor weakness.

Evaluación del tiempo de estancia hospitalaria en una población de 168 pacientes con trasplante renal / Length of stay in hospital of 168 patients with renal trasplantation

Se evaluó el tiempo de estancia hospitalaria en trasplante renal (TR). Se incluyeron pacientes trasplantados de enero 1996 a diciembre de 1997. La muestra consideró pacientes con donadores vivos relacionados (DVR), emocionalmente relacionados (DVER) y de cadáver (DC). Se evaluó el tiempo de estancia hospitalaria (H) a partir de la cirugía de TR hasta su alta hospitalaria (AH). Se consideraron factores que influyeron en el tiempo de estancia hospitalaria como la edad del donador-receptor, el tipo de donador, las complicaciones quirúrgicas y médicas, la disfunción del injerto por factores inmunológicos y no inmunológicos. Se estudió una muestra de 168 pacientes, 124 con DVR, 21 con DVER y 23 con DC. El promedio de estancia hospitalaria (H) de la población total estudiada fue de 6.7 días en promedio. Hubo 23/168 complicaciones (13.6 por ciento). Dos pacientes fallecieron (1.1 por ciento) La creatinina sérica en mg/dl (Cr) el día de alta hospitalaria fue de 1.2 ñ 0.9 mg/dl. El grupo con complicaciones médicas y quirúrgicas (DVR: 13/124, 10.5 por ciento DVER 0/21 0 por ciento, DC: 10/23 43.4 por ciento) tuvo una H de 15.8 días en promedio con Cr 2.6 mg/dl en promedio en el AH. Nuestro análisis mostró que las complicaciones médicas y quirúrgicas fueron más frecuentes en los pacientes con DC (43.4 por ciento).

Cirugía general en pacientes con trasplante renal en el hospital de especialidades CMN siglo XXI / General surgery in renal trasplantation recipients at the hospital de especialidades CMN siglo XXI

El receptor de trasplante renal tiene mayor frecuencia de complicaciones quirúrgicas en contraste con la población general debido a que sufre de una enfermedad crónica con profunda repercusión multiorgánica, es sometido a un extenso trauma quirúrgico durante el trasplante y a una profunda inmunodepresión terapéutica. En este informe describimos la frecuencia de complicaciones quirúrgicas no relacionadas al trasplante en nuestra población de pacientes con trasplante renal efectuado entre enero de 1992 a febrero de 1997. Durante este periodo efectuamos 262 trasplantes renales. A 35 pacientes (13.23 por ciento) se les realizó cirugía general. Hubo 21 hombres y 14 mujeres con edad promedio de 35.8 años (21 a 59). El promedio de seguimiento fue de 31.4 meses. La cirugía general se efectuó a los 10. S meses en promedio después del trasplante. La cirugía más frecuente fue: laparotomía exploradora 15/35 (42.8 por ciento), plastía abdominal 5/35 (14.2 por ciento), colecistectomía 4/35 (11.4 por ciento). En 25 pacientes la cirugía se efectuó de urgencia (71.4 por ciento) y en 10 casos fue cirugía electiva (28.5 por ciento). En 7 pacientes (20 por ciento) hubo disfunción del aloinjerto, 6 casos fueron cirugía de urgencia No hubo pérdida de injertos. La sobrevida de este grupo a 5 años fue de 86.7 por ciento vs 31 pacientes con donador vivo idéntico 87.1 por ciento que no fue significativo. En conclusión la cirugía general más frecuente fue la realizada de urgencia sin pérdidas del aloinjerto ni afección a la sobrevida del injerto.