The Influence of Contact Intensity with the Outside Environment on the Bodyʼs Adaptive Capabilities During Antarctic Wintering

The research was conducted by a member of the 60th Russian Antarctic Expedition at the all-yearround Mirny Station. The aim was to study what influence contact intensity with the outside environment has on adaptive capabilities of polar station staff. The level of adaptive capabilities was evaluated using the method of cardio-respiratory synchronism, assessing the index of regulatory and adaptive status (IRAS). This method had been developed at the Normal Physiology Department of Kuban State Medical University under the supervision of Prof. V.M. Pokrovsky. It is based on recording the synchronization parameters of controlled high respiratory rate and heart rate. We compared IRAS dynamics of two aerologists during one year of wintering. The subjects had similar anthropometric data, health status and working conditions, the same length of Antarctic wintering (6 years) and were in the same age group. Contact intensity with the outside environment was determined by varying periods spent outside the station premises, mostly due to the lay-out of the residential and amenity buildings (canteen, leisure area, medical unit, gym). This period ranged from 2 to 7 hours on different days. The negative IRAS dynamics, being a marker of human adaptive capabilities, allowed us to identify the relationship between the intensity of environmental influence and the level of the body’s adaptive abilities in one of the expedition members who had been exposed to stronger environmental effects. The authors conclude that proper organization of off-duty periods aimed to decrease the influence of the outside environment will contribute to improving the health of the station staff and optimize their living conditions.

Fresh Mushroom Preservation Techniques

The production and consumption of fresh mushrooms has experienced a significant increase in recent decades. This trend has been driven mainly by their nutritional value and by the presence of bioactive and nutraceutical components that are associated with health benefits, which has led some to consider them a functional food. Mushrooms represent an attractive food for vegetarian and vegan consumers due to their high contents of high-biological-value proteins and vitamin D. However, due to their high respiratory rate, high water content, and lack of a cuticular structure, mushrooms rapidly lose quality and have a short shelf life after harvest, which limits their commercialization in the fresh state. Several traditional preservation methods are used to maintain their quality and extend their shelf life. This article reviews some preservation methods that are commonly used to preserve fresh mushrooms and promising new preservation techniques, highlighting the use of new packaging systems and regulations aimed at the development of more sustainable packaging.

The Barts Health NHS Trust COVID-19 cohort: characteristics, outcomes and risk scoring of patients in East London

BACKGROUND: Barts Health National Health Service Trust (BHNHST) serves a diverse population of 2.5 million people in London, UK. We undertook a health services assessment of factors used to evaluate the risk of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection.METHODS: Patients with confirmed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results admitted between 1 March and 1 August 2020 were included, alongwith clinician‐diagnosed suspected cases. Prognostic factors from the 4C Mortality score and 4C Deterioration scores were extracted from electronic health records and logistic regression was used to quantify the strength of association with 28‐day mortality and clinical deterioration using national death registry linkage.RESULTS: Of 2783 patients, 1621 had a confirmed diagnosis, of whom 61% were male and 54% were from Black and Minority Ethnic groups; 26% died within 28 days of admission. Mortality was strongly associated with older age. The 4C mortality score had good stratification of risk with a calibration slope of 1.14 (95% CI 1.01–1.27). It may have under‐estimated mortality risk in those with a high respiratory rate or requiring oxygen.CONCLUSION: Patients in this diverse patient cohort had similar mortality associated with prognostic factors to the 4C score derivation sample, but survival might be poorer in those with respiratory failure.

Does Iso-mechanical Power Lead to Iso-lung Damage?

Background Excessive tidal volume, respiratory rate, and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) are all potential causes of ventilator-induced lung injury, and all contribute to a single variable: the mechanical power. The authors aimed to determine whether high tidal volume or high respiratory rate or high PEEP at iso-mechanical power produce similar or different ventilator-induced lung injury. Methods Three ventilatory strategies—high tidal volume (twice baseline functional residual capacity), high respiratory rate (40 bpm), and high PEEP (25 cm H2O)—were each applied at two levels of mechanical power (15 and 30 J/min) for 48 h in six groups of seven healthy female piglets (weight: 24.2 ± 2.0 kg, mean ± SD). Results At iso-mechanical power, the high tidal volume groups immediately and sharply increased plateau, driving pressure, stress, and strain, which all further deteriorated with time. In high respiratory rate groups, they changed minimally at the beginning, but steadily increased during the 48 h. In contrast, after a sudden huge increase, they decreased with time in the high PEEP groups. End-experiment specific lung elastance was 6.5 ± 1.7 cm H2O in high tidal volume groups, 10.1 ± 3.9 cm H2O in high respiratory rate groups, and 4.5 ± 0.9 cm H2O in high PEEP groups. Functional residual capacity decreased and extravascular lung water increased similarly in these three categories. Lung weight, wet-to-dry ratio, and histologic scores were similar, regardless of ventilatory strategies and power levels. However, the alveolar edema score was higher in the low power groups. High PEEP had the greatest impact on hemodynamics, leading to increased need for fluids. Adverse events (early mortality and pneumothorax) also occurred more frequently in the high PEEP groups. Conclusions Different ventilatory strategies, delivered at iso-power, led to similar anatomical lung injury. The different systemic consequences of high PEEP underline that ventilator-induced lung injury must be evaluated in the context of the whole body. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New

Fibrous osteodystrophy in a Lavradeira filly associated with Brachiaria humidicola ingestion

Fibrous osteodystrophy in horses is due to low calcium ingestion, high phosphorus ingestion, high oxalate ingestion, or a combination of these. Tropical forages usually have high levels of oxalates, which prevents calcium absorption and results in calcium deficiency. The present study reports a case of fibrous osteodystrophy in a filly associated with Brachiaria humidicola ingestion. A 1-year-old filly of the Lavradeiro breed was maintained on a pasture with B. humidicola and presented bilaterally enlarged facial bones, a high respiratory rate, noises during inspiration-expiration and dyspnea. Based on its history, age and clinical signs, the diagnosis was fibrous osteodystrophy associated with B. humidicola ingestion. Treatment was based on the administration of calcium gluconate, vitamins A, D and E, and clenbuterol. All other horses were transferred to a field with native forage and were supplemented with calcium carbonate. In Roraima state, the use of tropical forages in equine feeding is very common and represents a risk factor for the occurrence of fibrous osteodystrophy due to the continuous ingestion of oxalates. In horses, the diagnosis is achieved by clinical exam and treatment aims to correct the imbalance in Ca:P ratio, associated with support therapy.

Clinical features of patients with acute epiglottitis in the emergency department

Background: Acute epiglottitis is a potentially life-threatening condition, but its clinical manifestations are usually nonspecific. Objectives: We investigated the clinical differences between patients with and those without acute epiglottitis and identified the risk factors of patients with acute epiglottitis who may develop airway compromise. Methods: We studied patients suspected of having acute epiglottitis in the emergency department. All patients received fibre-optic laryngoscopy performed by an otorhinolaryngologist and were subsequently divided into two groups: patients with acute epiglottitis and those without. Results: Of the 311 adult patients, 108 were diagnosed with acute epiglottitis. In the nonepiglottitis group, more complaints of fever (p < 0.001), cough (p < 0.001), and rhinorrhoea (p = 0.048) and more systemic comorbidities were reported. People with acute epiglottitis generally had a higher prevalence of head and neck tumours (p = 0.015), odynophagia (p = 0.037) and an elevated white blood cell level (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients with cardiovascular disease (p = 0.014) or diabetes mellitus (p = 0.019), drooling (p = 0.026) or sore throat (p = 0.042), a high respiratory rate (p = 0.009), an elevated white blood cell level (p = 0.002) and a higher C-reactive protein level (p = 0.005) was higher among those who required airway intervention. Conclusion: Clinical manifestations alone were insufficiently reliable for diagnosing acute epiglottitis but could predict disease severity. Laryngoscopy should be performed as soon as possible once a patient is suspected of having acute epiglottitis.

Anesthesia in a horse with diaphragmatic hernia

An eight-year-old Thoroughbred mare was presented with acute colic symptoms. Clinical and ultrasonographic examination revealed a suspicion of diaphragmatic hernia, which was confirmed during an emergency midline laparotomy performed the same day. Patients with diaphragmatic hernia pose a challenge for the surgeon and the anesthesiologist, because of the disturbed function of the diaphragm and the displacement of the abdominal organs into the thoracic cavity. Achieving optimal ventilation and oxygenation without causing damage to the lungs is not simple. In this case, assisted-controlled, intermittent positive pressure ventilation with a low tidal volume, low pressure and relatively high respiratory rate was applied. Alongside the difficulties during ventilation, the patient was cardiovascularly compromised. Due to the extent and position of the hernia, euthanasia was performed after obtaining the owner’s consent during surgery.

The Effect of Phytogenic Additive on Behavior During Mild – Moderate Heat Stress in Broilers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phytogenic additive with anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant properties on thermoregulatory behavior (lifting of the wings, high respiratory rate defined as open beaks) and water and feed intake in mild‑moderate heat stressed Cobb 500 broiler chickens. From 28th day of chickens’ age experimental group was supplemented with 0.1 % phytogenic additive based on Scutellaria baicalensis L. extract in the diet. At the age 30 days temperature was increased to 27 °C and kept the same till the end of experiment at 34 days of age. Ethological observation was performed 31st, 32nd and 33th days of experiment. Monitoring was performed in three observation periods at the start, in the middle and at the end of 18h day length, always for three consecutive hours. Changes in chickens’ behavior among days and observation periods, as well as the influence of phytogenic additive were evaluated. Manifestations of thermoregulatory behavior were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the middle and at the end of photoperiod. Significantly the highest number of chickens fed diets (p < 0.001) at the end of day‑light, water intake was the lowest in the middle of the day (p < 0.001). Significantly the oftenest lifting of the wings (p < 0.001), high respiratory rate (p < 0.001) and feed intake (p = 0.017) were found in 33 days of chickens’ age. Feeding of phytogenic additive did not affect water intake and feed intake, anyway significantly reduced (p < 0.001) thermoregulatory behavior.

The frequency and severity of metabolic acidosis related to topiramate

Objective We planned a cross-sectional analysis to determine the frequency and severity of metabolic acidosis in patients taking topiramate while awaiting craniotomy. Methods Eighty patients (18 – 65 years) taking topiramate to control seizures while awaiting elective craniotomy were enrolled. Any signs of metabolic acidosis or topiramate-related side effects were investigated. Blood chemistry levels and arterial blood gases, including lactate, were obtained. The severity of metabolic acidosis was defined according to base excess levels as mild or moderate. Results Blood gas analysis showed that 71% ( n = 57) of patients had metabolic acidosis. The frequency of moderate metabolic acidosis was 56% ( n = 45), while that of mild metabolic acidosis was 15% ( n = 12). A high respiratory rate was reported in only 10% of moderately acidotic patients. Conclusions In patients receiving topiramate, baseline blood gas analysis should be performed preoperatively to determine the presence and severity of metabolic acidosis.