Effect of Modified Solar Dryers on Colorimetric and Physicochemical Properties of Pumpkin Flower (Cucurbita maxima).

This study aimed to evaluate the solar dryers' cover material effects on the colorimetric and physicochemical properties of pumpkin flowers (Cucurbita maxima). A direct cabinet solar dryer was designed using three cover types: polycarbonate, polyethylene, and aluminum with selective surface (titanium oxide coating). A unifactorial experimental design with three levels was adopted. Pumpkin flower stability was assured by reducing the initial moisture content (95.22%) and water activity (0.989) to 3.15% and 0.276 in the polycarbonate dryer, to 3.03% and 0.279 in the selective surface dryer, and 5.19% and 0.364 in the polyethylene dryer. The drying kinetics showed that the drying time needed to achieve the moisture equilibrium was 480, 540, and 720 min in the respective dryers, depending on the ambient conditions. The initial pumpkin flower hue angle was 76.52°; however, this value decreased to 74.81, 69.52, and 70.23° in the dryers with polycarbonate, polyethylene, and the selective surface respectively; this behavior indicates a pumpkin flower tendency to orange color. The dryer with the selective surface obtained the best properties in pumpkin flowers. The pumpkin flower showed an initial total soluble solid of 1.5°Brix increased to 30°Brix in the polycarbonate and polyethylene dryers and 39°Brix in the selective dryer. The titanium oxide dryer observed an increment in ascorbic acid content from 3.5 to 8.806 mg/100 g, whereas 6.45 and 5.87 mg/100 g in the polycarbonate and polyethylene dryer, respectively.

Caracterización sociodemográfica y clínica de pacientes con dolor crónico de espalda, Cienfuegos 2019 / Sociodemographic and clinical characterization in patients with chronic back pain, Cienfuegos 2019

OBJETIVO: Determinar las principales características sociodemográficas y clínicas presentes en pacientes con dolor crónico de espalda de la población cienfueguera. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, de serie de casos, en los meses comprendidos de mayo a octubre de 2019, en el Hospital "Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima", de la provincia de Cienfuegos, Cuba. Se realizó un muestreo no probabilístico casual o a conveniencia de participantes voluntarios. La muestra quedó conformada por un total de 70 pacientes con diagnóstico de dolor crónico de la espalda, valorados inicialmente por especialistas de Ortopedia o Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, mayores de 20 años de edad, sin deterioro cognitivo, ni enfermedad psíquica severa, que dieron su consentimiento informado para participar en el estudio. Se estudiaron las variables sociodemográficas: edad, sexo, nivel escolar, ocupación y las variables clínicas: diagnóstico etiológico, intensidad del dolor, frecuencia de aparición, tiempo de evolución, tipo de tratamiento para su alivio y discapacidad. Los instrumentos empleados fueron: entrevista semiestructurada, escala visual analógica (EVA) y escala de incapacidad por dolor lumbar de Oswestry. El análisis estadístico se realizó en la base de datos del paquete estadístico SPSS. RESULTADOS: Prevalecieron los pacientes del grupo de edad de 41 a 60 años (60,2 %), del sexo femenino (74,3 %), con nivel superior (38,6 %) y las ocupaciones que conllevan esfuerzo físico frecuente (61,4 %). Predominó el diagnóstico etiológico inespecífico (62,8 %), la intensidad del dolor severa (55,7 %), de frecuencia estable (55,7 %) y más de 5 años de evolución de la enfermedad (48,6 %). Se destaca además el tratamiento médico (85,7 %) y la discapacidad moderada (54,3 %). CONCLUSIONES: Las personas en edades laboralmente activas se encuentran sujetos a una serie de factores físicos, propios de las actividades de la vida cotidiana que por demás están matizadas por un enfoque de género que se deriva de la cultura y el proceso de socialización

OBJECTIVE: To determine the main sociodemographic and clinical characteristics present in patients with chronic back pain of the population in Cienfuegos. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive study was carried out, as a series of cases, in the months from May to October 2019, at the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima Hospital in the province of Cienfuegos, Cuba. A causal non probabilistic sampling was performed or to a convenience of voluntary participants. The sample was made up of a total of 70 patients with diagnosis of chronic back pain, initially valued by orthopedic specialization and Physical Rehabilitations, greater than 20 years of age, without cognitive impairment, nor severe psychic disease, which gave their informed consent to participate in the study. The sociodemographic variables were studied: age, sex, school level, occupation and clinical variables: etiological diagnosis, pain intensity, frequency of appearance, time of evolution, type of treatment for relief and disability. The instruments used were: Semi-structured Interview, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Scale. Statistical analysis was performed in the database of the SPSS statistical package. RESULTS: patients aged between 41 and 60 years (60.2 %), female (74.3 %), with a higher level (38.6 %) and occupations involving frequent physical exertion prevailed (61, 4 %). Nonspecific etiological diagnosis (62.8 %), severe pain intensity (55.7 %), stable frequency (55.7 %) with more than 5 years of disease cienfueprogression (48.6 %), predominated. It also highlights medical treatment (85.7 %) and moderate disability (54.3 %). CONCLUSIONS: people at work-related ages are subject to a series of physical factors, typical of the activities of daily life that, in addition, are nuanced by a gender approach that derives from the culture and socialization process

Aspirin inhibits endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and Flk-1 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2) prior to rat colon tumour development.

Formation of blood vessels is a fundamental element in the control of tumour growth in which vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO) have been demonstrated to be involved. Our aim was to analyse whether changes in the expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and VEGF in colonic tissue could be detected early and even before the identification of colon tumour-associated morphological modifications in azoxymethane-treated rats. We studied further whether aspirin treatment changed these parameters. An increased expression of both eNOS and VEGF in colonic tissue from azoxymethane-treated rats compared with that from control rats was found. Aspirin treatment (10 mg/kg of body weight per day) reduced eNOS expression, but failed to modify the expression of VEGF in the colonic tissue of azoxymethane-treated rats. No evidence of aberrant crypt formation or changes in the number of blood vessels were observed in the colon of any of the animals studied. Expression of the VEGF receptor Flk-1, but not Flt-1, was increased in colonic tissue of azoxymethane-treated rats compared with control rats. The expression of Flk-1 was mainly localized in the epithelial cells, particularly in the lower part of the crypt. Aspirin treatment reduced Flk-1 expression in both control and azoxymethane-treated rats. Caspase-3 activity, which has been considered as an apoptotic index, was almost undetectable in azoxymethane-treated rats. Aspirin treatment stimulated caspase-3 activity. Overexpression of eNOS, VEGF and its receptor Flk-1 occurred early after azoxymethane administration in rat colonic tissue, even before morphological changes associated with tumour generation were observed, and aspirin prevented the overexpression of both eNOS and VEGF receptor Flk-1.