Clinical and epidemiological profiles of individuals with drug-resistant tuberculosis

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a growing global threat. Approximately 450,000 people developed multidrug-resistant TB worldwide in 2012 and an estimated 170,000 people died from the disease. This paper describes the sociodemographic, clinical-epidemiological and bacteriological aspects of TB and correlates these features with the distribution of anti-TB drug resistance. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) cultures and drug susceptibility testing were performed according to the BACTEC MGIT 960 method. The results demonstrated that MT strains from individuals who received treatment for TB and people who were infected with human immunodeficiency virus were more resistant to TB drugs compared to other individuals (p < 0.05). Approximately half of the individuals received supervised treatment, but most drug-resistant cases were positive for pulmonary TB and exhibited positive acid-fast bacilli smears, which are complicating factors for TB control programs. Primary healthcare is the ideal level for early disease detection, but tertiary healthcare is the most common entry point for patients into the system. These factors require special attention from healthcare managers and professionals to effectively control and monitor the spread of TB drug-resistant cases.

Fruit production in Chile: bright past, uncertain future

In 2007 (the last agricultural census), Chile had 308, 445 ha of fruit orchards: an increase of almost 32% from the previous census (1997). The most important species were table grapes (20%), avocados (13%) and apples (12%). Some 22% of the fruit crops growing area corresponded to juvenile orchards; within the species with higher proportion of juvenile orchards were prunes (42%) and blueberries (56%). Most orchards are located between latitude 27º18` S (Copiapó) and 40º36´S (Puerto Varas). The industry is driven by the export component which accounts for more than 50% of the fruits produced. In the crop season 2009-2010, approximately 254 million boxes (around 2.5 million tons) were exported, representing over US$ 3.5 million. Processed and fresh fruits represented 8.2 and 26.7% of the total forest and agricultural Chilean exports in 2008, respectively. The main markets for this fruits were USA/Canada (42%) and Europe (32%). The fruit grower receives, on average, 12-16% of the total price of the fruit in its final destination. Each year the fruit industry employs 450.000 people directly, of which 1/3 are permanent. Even though the fruit industry employs the highest proportion of the agricultural labor and the growing area has increased in the last 20 years, the proportion of agricultural employment has decreased from 19.5% in 1989 to 10.8% in 2008. It might also be noted that Chile invests only 0.7% of the GDP in research. In the last 40 years, the fruit industry has been a motor for the Chilean economic development, but the lower rates of currency exchange, the rising costs of energy (oil, electricity), and the increasing scarcity of hand labor have drastically reduced the profitability and are putting at risk the viability of a large proportion of the fruit orchards in Chile. It is estimated that this season around 65% of the orchards will have a negative economic balance in their operations. Higher investment in research, improvements in fruit quality and various orchard management practices, as well as higher financial support from the Government are needed for the long term viability of the fruit industry in Chile.

Prochloraz residue levels in ginger submitted to Sportak 450 CE" postharvest treatment

A preliminary study was conducted to determine the residue levels of prochloraz in ginger samples treated with Sportak 450 CE® (prochloraz as active ingredient) under laboratory conditions and cold-storage for 15 days at 10°C and 89% RH. Sampling was carried out at 10 and 15 days after Sportak 450 CE® dip treatment (450 and 900 µg mL-1). Pesticide residues were determined by GCECD. During the study, residue levels in ginger ranged between 3.6 and 10.6 mg Kg-1 for prochloraz.

Decomposition kinetics of gaseous ozone in peanuts

This study was conducted to evaluate the decomposition kinetics of gaseous ozone in peanut grains. This evaluation was made with 1-kg peanut samples, moisture contents being 7.1 and 10.5% wet basis (w.b.), placed in 3-liter glass containers. The peanut grains were ozonated at the concentration of 450 µg L-1, at 25 and 35 ºC, with gas flow rates of 1.0 and 3.0 L min-1. Time of saturation was determined by quantifying the residual concentration of ozone after the gas passed through the grains to constant mass. The decomposition kinetics of ozone was evaluated after the grain mass was ozone-saturated. For the peanut grains whose moisture content was 7.1% (w.b.), at 25 and 35ºC and with flow rates of 1.0 and 3.0 L min-1, the values obtained for time of saturation of gaseous ozone ranged between 173 and 192 min; the concentration of saturation was approximately 260 µg L-1. For the grains whose moisture content was 10.5% (w.b.), a higher residual concentration of gaseous ozone was obtained at 25 ºC, that of 190 µg L-1. As regards the half-life of ozone, the highest value obtained was equivalent to 7.7 min for grains ozonated at 25 ºC, while for those with moisture content of 10.5% at 35 ºC, half-life was 3.2 min. In the process of ozone decomposition in peanut grains, temperature was concluded to be the key factor. An increase of 10 ºC in the temperature of the grains results in a decrease of at least 43% in the half-life of ozone.