Cardiovascular risk among health professionals working in pre-hospital care services

The objective of this study was to assess the cardiovascular risk factors among health professionals, particularly hypertension, and stratify them according to the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). The participants were 154 professionals working in pre-hospital care in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and on the Br-116 highway. Values were considered significant for p<0.05. The prevalence of hypertension was 33%, 20.1% were smokers, 47% consumed alcoholic beverages, 64% were sedentary, 66% were obese/overweight and 70% had an altered abdominal circumference. In terms of laboratory values: glucose >= 110mg/dL11%, total cholesterol >= 200mg/dL-36%, LDL-c >= 130mg/dL-33%, HDL-c<60mg/dL89%, triglycerides >= 150mg/dL-30% and C reactive protein >= 0.5mg/dL-16%. The FRS was average in 10.3% and high in 1.3%. In logistic regression analysis, it was verified that hypertension was associated with: HDL-c (odds ratio: 0.257,) and FRS (odds ratio: 23.159). There was strong correlation between hypertension and FRS. Data are noteworthy, as this is a relatively young sample of health professionals.

Distribution and stability of aflatoxin M-1 during processing and storage of Minas Frescal cheese

Aflatoxin M-1 (AFM(1)) is a hepatocarcinogen found in milk of animals that have consumed feeds with aflatoxin B-1. The carry-over of AFM(1) from milk to Minas Frescal cheese produced with or without starter cultures was determined. 40 L of milk were divided into 10 L each and assigned to the following treatments for cheese manufacture: 0.250 rig AFM(1) mL(-1), 0.500 rig AFM(1) mL(-1), 0.250 ng AFM(1) mL(-1) + starter, 0.500 ng AFM(1) mL(-1) + starter. Quantification of AFM(1) was achieved by high performance liquid chromatography. The carry-over of AFM(1) from milk to cheese ranged from 30.64% to 42.26%. There was no effect of storage time on AFM(1). Milk with AFM(1) in levels studied may concentrate the toxin in Minas Frescal cheese, but at concentrations below the Brazilian tolerance limit. The addition of starter cultures did not influence concentration or stability of the AFM(1) in cheese over 30 days storage. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Changes on emitter discharge under different water temperature and pressure

The study was conducted at the Research Laboratory of Hydraulic and Irrigation Group in the Rural Engineering Department, Technical University of Madrid (Universidad Politecnica de Madrid), Madrid, Spain. Water temperatures of 20, 30, 40 degrees C and system pressures often encountered in irrigation practices of 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 and 200 k Pa were applied to determine the effects of different water temperatures and pressures on emitter discharge. Non-pressure compensating in-line emitter which has turbulent flow regime with a long-path (labyrinth), emitter discharge was 4 L h(-1) at system pressure of 100 kPa according to the manufacturer recommended, was used. Emitters were spaced 20 cm along the drip laterals with 16 mm diameter. Discharge equations and coefficients of variation related to temperatures of 20, 30 and 40 degrees C were obtained as q = 0.375H(0.51), q = 0.358H(0.52), q = 0.346H(0.53) and 2.68, 2.09, 3.65, respectively. Discharge of the emitter was affected by different system pressures and increased as potentially (R = 0993-0996). In general. the emitter discharge increased with increasing temperature. However, especially in the common system pressures of 90-120 k Pa, differences of obtained emitter discharges between the different water temperatures were not significant (1%).

Cediranib Plus FOLFOX/CAPOX Versus Placebo Plus FOLFOX/CAPOX in Patients With Previously Untreated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase III Study (HORIZON II)

Purpose Cediranib is a highly potent inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling with activity against all three VEGF receptors. HORIZON II [Cediranib (AZD2171, RECENTIN) in Addition to Chemotherapy Versus Placebo Plus Chemotherapy in Patients With Untreated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer] assessed infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin/capecitabine and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX/CAPOX) with or without cediranib in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients and Methods Eligible patients were initially randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive cediranib (20 or 30 mg per day) or placebo plus FOLFOX/CAPOX. In an early analysis of this and two other cediranib studies (HORIZON I [Cediranib Plus FOLFOX6 Versus Bevacizumab Plus FOLFOX6 in Patients With Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer] and HORIZON III [Cediranib Plus FOLFOX6 Versus Bevacizumab Plus FOLFOX6 in Patients With Untreated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer]), the 20-mg dose met the predefined criteria for continuation. Subsequent patients were randomly assigned 2: 1 to the cediranib 20 mg or placebo arms. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were coprimary end points. Results In all, 860 patients received cediranib 20 mg (n = 502) or placebo (n = 358). The addition of cediranib to FOLFOX/CAPOX resulted in PFS prolongation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98; P = .0121; median PFS, 8.6 months for cediranib v 8.3 months for placebo) but had no impact on OS (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.12; P = .5707; median OS, 19.7 months for cediranib v 18.9 months for placebo). There were no significant differences in the secondary end points of objective response rate, duration of response, or liver resection rate. Median chemotherapy dose-intensity was decreased by approximately 10% in patients treated with cediranib. Adverse events (AEs) associated with cediranib were manageable. Conclusion Addition of cediranib 20 mg to FOLFOX/CAPOX resulted in a modest PFS prolongation, but no significant difference in OS. The cediranib AE profile was consistent with those from previous studies. Because of the lack of improvement in OS, cediranib plus an oxaliplatin-based regimen cannot be recommended as a treatment for patients with mCRC. J Clin Oncol 30:3596-3603. (C) 2012 by American Society of Clinical Oncology

Risco cardiovascular em profissionais de saúde de serviços de atendimento pré-hospitalar

Avaliar os fatores de risco cardiovascular, com ênfase na hipertensão, e estratificá-los de acordo com o Escore de Risco de Framingham (ERF). Estudo com 154 profissionais que atuavam em aten-dimento pré-hospitalar na cidade de São Paulo e rodovia Br-116. Foi considerado significante o valor de p<0,05. A prevalência de hipertensão foi de 33%, sendo que 20,1% eram tabagistas, 47% ingeriam bebidas alcoólicas, 64% eram sedentários, 66% apresentaram obesidade/sobrepeso e 70% cintura abdominal alterada, glicemia>110mg/dL- 11%, colesterol total>200mg/dL- 36%, LDL-c>130mg/dL- 33%, HDL-c<60mg/dL- 89%, triglicérides>150mg/dL- 30% e proteína C reativa>0,5mg/dL- 16%. O ERF foi médio em 10,3% e alto em 1,3%. Na análise de regressão logística verificou-se que a hipertensão associou-se com as variáveis: HDL-c (odds ratio: 0,257) e ERF (odds ratio: 23,159). Houve forte associação entre ERF e hipertensão. Os dados chamam a atenção, por se tratar principalmente de profissionais da área da saúde relativamente jovens.

RELATIONS BETWEEN SOIL SURFACE ROUGHNESS, TORTUOSITY, TILLAGE TREATMENTS, RAINFALL INTENSITY AND SOIL AND WATER LOSSES FROM A RED YELLOW LATOSOL

The soil surface roughness increases water retention and infiltration, reduces the runoff volume and speed and influences soil losses by water erosion. Similarly to other parameters, soil roughness is affected by the tillage system and rainfall volume. Based on these assumptions, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tillage treatments on soil surface roughness (RR) and tortuosity (T) and to investigate the relationship with soil and water losses in a series of simulated rainfall events. The field study was carried out at the experimental station of EMBRAPA Southeastern Cattle Research Center in Sao Carlos (Fazenda Canchim), in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Experimental plots of 33 m(2) were treated with two tillage practices in three replications, consisting of: untilled (no-tillage) soil (NTS) and conventionally tilled (plowing plus double disking) soil (CTS). Three successive simulated rain tests were applied in 24 h intervals. The three tests consisted of a first rain of 30 mm/h, a second of 30 mm/h and a third rain of 70 mm/h. Immediately after tilling and each rain simulation test, the surface roughness was measured, using a laser profile meter. The tillage treatments induced significant changes in soil surface roughness and tortuosity, demonstrating the importance of the tillage system for the physical surface conditions, favoring water retention and infiltration in the soil. The increase in surface roughness by the tillage treatments was considerably greater than its reduction by rain action. The surface roughness and tortuosity had more influence on the soil volume lost by surface runoff than in the conventional treatment. Possibly, other variables influenced soil and water losses from the no-tillage treatments, e. g., soil type, declivity, slope length, among others not analyzed in this study.

Relations between soil surface roughness, tortuosity, tillage treatments, rainfall intensity and soil and water losses from a red yellow latosol

The soil surface roughness increases water retention and infiltration, reduces the runoff volume and speed and influences soil losses by water erosion. Similarly to other parameters, soil roughness is affected by the tillage system and rainfall volume. Based on these assumptions, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tillage treatments on soil surface roughness (RR) and tortuosity (T) and to investigate the relationship with soil and water losses in a series of simulated rainfall events. The field study was carried out at the experimental station of EMBRAPA Southeastern Cattle Research Center in São Carlos (Fazenda Canchim), in São Paulo State, Brazil. Experimental plots of 33 m² were treated with two tillage practices in three replications, consisting of: untilled (no-tillage) soil (NTS) and conventionally tilled (plowing plus double disking) soil (CTS). Three successive simulated rain tests were applied in 24 h intervals. The three tests consisted of a first rain of 30 mm/h, a second of 30 mm/h and a third rain of 70 mm/h. Immediately after tilling and each rain simulation test, the surface roughness was measured, using a laser profile meter. The tillage treatments induced significant changes in soil surface roughness and tortuosity, demonstrating the importance of the tillage system for the physical surface conditions, favoring water retention and infiltration in the soil. The increase in surface roughness by the tillage treatments was considerably greater than its reduction by rain action. The surface roughness and tortuosity had more influence on the soil volume lost by surface runoff than in the conventional treatment. Possibly, other variables influenced soil and water losses from the no-tillage treatments, e.g., soil type, declivity, slope length, among others not analyzed in this study.