Osmosis dehydration of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata.) kernel with trehalose solution

Osmosis dehydration is a process of reducing water content by immersing the material in a hypertonic solution. It usually uses a sugar solution likes mono-saccharide or disaccharide. Trehalose is one type of disaccharide that can be used as a solute. Trehalose is able to maintain the nutrition content of food material and the aroma of horticulture products because it maintains and stabilizes complex molecules. Immersing of sweet corn kernel in trehalose solution was expected to maintain kernel sweet corn quality in relation to the next process. The objective of the research is to investigate the effects of the different immersing temperatures and trehalose concentrations on the physical quality of sweet corn. This study used solution with concentrations of 4%, 8%, and 12% trehalose. The variations of immersing temperature were 30°C, 40°C, and 50°C. The experiment was done with a factorial completely randomized design. The first factor was immersing temperature and the second factor was the concentration of trehalose solution. The data was analyzed using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) method. The temperature treatment of 50°C and trehalose concentration of 12% showed the highest weight reduction (6.18%), solid gain (4.5%), and water loss (10.38%). The lowest water content of corn kernel was also obtained in this treatment i.e 78.7%.

The effectiveness of combination of 7% hypertonic saline and 0.1% natrii hyaluronas in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have suffered a new coronavirus infection

Introduction. New coronavirus infection (COVID-19) contributes to the aggravation of respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD, including affecting the intensity and nature of cough. Hypertonic solution (HS) has a positive effect on the rheological properties of sputum and mucociliary clearance. However, there are no studies in the available literature on the use of HS in patients who have undergone COVID-19.Goal. To evaluate the effect of the combination of 7% hypertonic saline and 0.1% natrii hyaluronas on the intensity and productive nature of cough in patients with COPD who have undergone a new coronavirus infection and the safety of its use in this cohort of patients.Materials and methods. 50 patients with severe COPD in remission who suffered a new coronavirus infection were examined. The rehabilitation stage of treatment was carried out in the conditions of the pulmonology department. From the moment of receiving the last negative PCR result for SARS-CoV-2 to admission to the hospital for rehabilitation, it took from 2 to 3 weeks. The duration of follow-up of patients was 10 days. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 25) – patients who received combination of 7% hypertonic saline and 0.1% natrii hyaluronas 7% by inhalation through a nebulizer; group 2 (n = 25) – patients who did not receive combination of 7% hypertonic saline and 0.1% natrii hyaluronas. The severity of cough was assessed (cough severity scale; shortness of breath, cough and sputum scale), clinical and biochemical blood tests, ECG, spirometry.Results. In patients treated with combination of 7% hypertonic saline and 0.1% natrii hyaluronas, a significant decrease in the severity of cough, the amount of sputum was revealed. The tendency to reduce shortness of breath and improve the quality of life is determined. No serious adverse events were detected when using the drug.Conclusions. The use of the combination of 7% hypertonic saline and 0.1% natrii hyaluronas in patients with COPD who have suffered a new coronavirus infection at the rehabilitation stage leads to a decrease in the intensity of cough and improved sputum discharge, which helps to reduce the severity of shortness of breath and improve the quality of life. The use of the drug is safe and does not lead to clinically significant adverse events.

Normalization of innate immunity factors when using sea water solution in patients with infectious rhinosinusitis

The data on modern approaches to the modulation of factors of innate immunity and oxidative stress when using a hypertonic sea water solution in patients with infectious rhinosinusitis are presented. It has been established that the use of a nasal spray of a hypertonic solution of sea water can shorten the treatment time, reduce the number of relapses of acute rhinosinusitis, restore the status of neutrophilic granulocytes on the surface of the nasal mucosa, and reduce the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

The cost-effectiveness of hypertonic saline inhalations for infant bronchiolitis

Background Pharmacological treatment for bronchiolitis is primarily supportive because bronchodilators, steroids, and antibiotics, show little benefit. Clinical studies have suggested that nebulized 3% hypertonic solution is useful for infants with bronchiolitis. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the HS inhalations in infant bronchiolitis in a tropical country. Methods Decision tree analysis was used to calculate the expected costs and QALYs. All cost and use of resources were collected directly from medical invoices of 193 patient hospitalized with diagnosis of bronchiolitis in tertiary centers, of Rionegro, Colombia. The utility values applied to QALYs calculations were collected from the literature. The economic analysis was carried out from a societal perspective. Results The model showed that nebulized 3% hypertonic solution, was associated with lower total cost than controls (US $200vs US $240 average cost per patient), and higher QALYs (0.92 vs 0.91 average per patient); showing dominance. A position of dominance negates the need to calculate an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Conclusion The nebulized 3% hypertonic solution was cost-effective in the inpatient treatment of infant bronchiolitis. Our study provides evidence that should be used by decision-makers to improve clinical practice guidelines and should be replicated to validate their results in other tropical countries.

The cost‑effectiveness of hypertonic saline inhalations for infant bronchiolitis.

BackgroundPharmacological treatment for bronchiolitis is primarily supportive because bronchodilators, steroids, and antibiotics, show little benefit. Clinical studies have suggested that nebulized 3% hypertonic solution is useful for infants with bronchiolitis. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the HS inhalations in infant bronchiolitis in a tropical country Methods Decision tree analysis was used to calculate the expected costs and QALYs. All cost and use of resources were collected directly from medical invoices of 193 patient hospitalized with diagnosis of bronchiolitis in tertiary centers, of Rionegro, Colombia. The utility values applied to QALYs calculations were collected from the literature. The economic analysis was carried out from a societal perspective.ResultsThe model showed that nebulized 3% hypertonic solution, was associated with lower total cost than controls (US $200vs US $240 average cost per patient), and higher QALYs ( 0.92 vs 0.91 average per patient); showing dominance. A position of dominance negates the need to calculate an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.Conclusion The nebulized 3% hypertonic solution was cost-effective in the inpatient treatment of infant bronchiolitis. Our study provides evidence that should be used by decision-makers to improve clinical practice guidelines and should be replicated to validate their results in other tropical countries.

The cost ‑effectiveness of hypertonic saline inhalations for infant bronchiolitis.

Background Pharmacological treatment for bronchiolitis is primarily supportive because bronchodilators, steroids, and antibiotics, show little benefit. Clinical studies have suggested that nebulized 3% hypertonic solution is useful for infants with bronchiolitis. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the HS inhalations in infant bronchiolitis in a tropical country Methods Decision tree analysis was used to calculate the expected costs and QALYs. All cost and use of resources were collected directly from medical invoices of 193 patient hospitalized with diagnosis of bronchiolitis in tertiary centers, of Rionegro, Colombia. The utility values applied to QALYs calculations were collected from the literature. The economic analysis was carried out from a societal perspective.Results The model showed that nebulized 3% hypertonic solution, was associated with lower total cost than controls (US $200vs US $240 average cost per patient), and higher QALYs ( 0.92 vs 0.91 average per patient); showing dominance. A position of dominance negates the need to calculate an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.Conclusion The nebulized 3% hypertonic solution was cost-effective in the inpatient treatment of infant bronchiolitis. Our study provides evidence that should be used by decision-makers to improve clinical practice guidelines and should be replicated to validate their results in other tropical countries.

Acute kidney injury after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: is chloride really responsible?

Sadan et al. find an association between acute kidney injury and high chloride containing a hypertonic solution. Recent large prospective non-randomized studies bring conflicting results on the relationship between chloride and acute kidney injury. We discuss Sadan et al.’s results according to the recent literature.

Improving Airways Patency and Ventilation Through Optimal Positive Pressure Identified by Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation Titration in Mounier-Kuhn Syndrome: Protocol for an Interventional, Open-Label, Single-Arm Clinical Trial

Background Mounier-Kuhn syndrome or congenital tracheobronchomegaly is a rare disease characterized by dilation of the trachea and the main bronchi within the thoracic cavity. The predominant signs and symptoms of the disease include coughing, purulent and abundant expectoration, dyspnea, snoring, wheezing, and recurrent respiratory infection. Symptoms of the disease in some patients are believed to be pathological manifestations arising due to resident tracheobronchomalacia. Although treatment options used for the management of this disease include inhaled bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and hypertonic solution, there is no consensus on the treatment. The use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been reported as a potential therapeutic option for tracheobronchomalacia, but no prospective studies have demonstrated its efficacy in this condition. Objective The purpose of this is to identify the presence of tracheobronchomalacia and an optimal CPAP pressure that reduces the tracheobronchial collapse in patients with Mounier-Kuhn syndrome and to analyze the repercussion in pulmonary ventilation. In parallel, we aim to evaluate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. Methods This interventional, open-label, single-arm clinical trial will enroll patients who are diagnosed Mounier-Kuhn syndrome. Patient evaluation will be conducted in an outpatient clinic and involve 3 visits. Visit 1 will involve the collection and registration of social demographic, clinical, and functional data. Visit 2 will entail polysomnography, bronchoscopy for the evaluation of tracheobronchomalacia, titration of the optimal pressure that reduces the degree of collapse of the airway, and electrical impedance tomography. In visit 3, patients exhibiting a reduction in collapse areas will be requested to undergo chest computed tomography during inspiration and forced expiration with and without positive pressure (titrated to determine optimal CPAP pressure). Results This protocol is a doctorate project. The project was submitted to the institutional review board on January 24, 2017, and approval was granted on February 2, 2017 (Brazilian Research database number CAAE 64001317.4.000.0068). Patient evaluations started in April 2018. Planned recruitment is based on volunteers’ availability and clinical stability, and interventions will be conducted at least once a month to finish the project at the end of 2020. A preliminary analysis of each case will be performed after each intervention, but detailed results are expected to be reported in the first quarter of 2021. Conclusions There is no consensus on the best treatment options for managing Mounier-Kuhn syndrome. The use of positive pressure could maintain patency of the collapsed airways, functioning as a “pneumatic stent” to reduce the degree of airflow obstruction. This, in turn, could promote mobilization of thoracic secretion and improve pulmonary ventilation. Trial Registration ClinicalTrails.gov NCT03101059; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03101059. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/14786

The Cost ‑effectiveness of Hypertonic Saline Inhalations for Infant Bronchiolitis

Background Pharmacological treatment for bronchiolitis is primarily supportive because bronchodilators, steroids, and antibiotics, show little benefit. Clinical studies have suggested that nebulized 3% hypertonic solution is useful for infants with bronchiolitis. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the HS inhalations in infant bronchiolitis in a tropical country Methods Decision tree analysis was used to calculate the expected costs and QALYs. All cost and use of resources were collected directly from medical invoices of 193 patient hospitalized with diagnosis of bronchiolitis in tertiary centers, of Rionegro, Colombia. The utility values applied to QALYs calculations were collected from the literature. The economic analysis was carried out from a societal perspective. Results The model showed that nebulized 3% hypertonic solution, was associated with lower total cost than controls (US $200vs US $240 average cost per patient), and higher QALYs ( 0.92 vs 0.91 average per patient); showing dominance. A position of dominance negates the need to calculate an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Conclusion The nebulized 3% hypertonic solution was cost-effective in the inpatient treatment of infant bronchiolitis. Our study provides evidence that should be used by decision-makers to improve clinical practice guidelines and should be replicated to validate their results in other tropical countries.