Effects of some chemical and physical agents on the metacestode Taenia solium in spicy meat and sausage

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of different cooking times and temperatures, as well as of some seasonings, on the viability of Taenia solium metacestodes in spicy meat and hot sausage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted by the Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero (Guerrero State Autonomous University), Mexico in 1999. Infected pork meat was bought in the community of Azacoaloya, in the municipality of Chilapa de Alvarez, Guerrero State. It was used to prepare spicy meat (adobada) and hot sausage (chorizo). Only the meat in which metacestode viability was proven was used. The products obtained underwent a) room temperature for 12 to 100 hours; b) temperatures of -10 to 37 degrees C for 24 hours; c) boiling (97 degrees C) from 1 to 15 minutes. To determine the effect of the seasonings, batches were prepared using twice the amount of a specific seasoning. Trials were done and assessed three times. Proportion differences were established using the chi-squared test. RESULTS: At room temperature the lowest evagination occurred after 100 hours for both products (p<0.05). After 24 hours, the lowest evagination occurred at -10 degrees C in spicy meat and at 37 degrees C in hot sausage (p<0.05). At boiling temperature there was no evagination after 10 minutes (p<0.05). In spicy meat, adding salt caused the most significant reduction; in hot sausage, thyme caused the most significant reduction (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Meat with metacestodes should not be eaten, yet, it is being sold and used to prepare spicy meats. Adding spices can hide the metacestode, thus, adequate cooking of these meat products is necessary. These meats may be consumed at least four days after its preparation and spicy meat after a minimum of four days of refrigeration. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.     

Biatrial multisite mapping of atrial premature complexes triggering onset of atrial fibrillation

Pulmonary veins are considered to be the most common origin of the focal activity that triggers the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, little is known about the importance of ectopic activity located outside the pulmonary veins. This study included 45 patients (8 women and 37 men, mean age 55 ± 12 years) with paroxysmal (n = 25) and persistent (n = 20) AF in whom multisite mapping of the right and left atria was performed using a 64-electrode basket catheter (n = 21) or a noncontact mapping system (n = 24). Spontaneous or orciprenaline-induced atrial premature complexes (APCs) were mapped. In all, 94 AF onsets from 38 distinct foci in 30 patients were observed and analyzed. Of these foci, 20 (53%) were located in pulmonary veins and 18 (47%) were located outside the pulmonary veins in other parts of the atria. In 22 patients (73%), AF was reproducibly induced by APCs from a single focus (59 episodes). In 8 patients (27%), AF originated from 2 distinct foci (35 episodes). Additionally, 20 of 30 patients (67%) who developed AF had APCs in different locations not inducing AF. APCs inducing AF had shorter coupling intervals than APCs not inducing AF (307 ± 54 vs 409 ± 76 ms, p <0.001). This study showed that 47% of ectopic foci triggering the onset of AF were located outside the pulmonary veins in extravenous parts of the left atrium and the right atrium, and 27% of patients had AF onsets of bifocal origin. These data challenge the current opinion that extrapulmonary foci play a minor role in inducing AF.     

Valor Prognóstico de Níveis Elevados de Troponina I Isolados em Pacientes sem Síndrome Coronariana Aguda Admitidos no Serviço de Emergência

Background:Although non-ischemic troponin elevation is frequently seen in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED), consensus regarding its management is lacking.Objectives:This study aimed to characterize patients admitted to the ED with non-ischemic troponin elevation and to identify potential mortality predictors in this population.Methods:This retrospective observational study included ED patients with a positive troponin test result between June and July of 2015. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were excluded. Data on patient demographics and clinical and laboratory variables were extracted from medical records. Follow-up data were obtained for 16 months or until death occurred. The statistical significance level was 5%.Results:Troponin elevation without ACS was found in 153 ED patients. The median (IQR) patient age was 78 (19) years, 80 (52.3%) were female and 59(38.6%) died during follow-up. The median (IQR) follow-up period was 477(316) days. Survivors were significantly younger 76 (24) vs. 84 (13) years; p=0.004) and featured a higher proportion of isolated troponin elevation (without creatine kinase or myoglobin elevation) in two consecutive evaluations: 48 (53.9%) vs. 8 (17.4%), p<0.001. Survivors also presented a lower rate of antiplatelet treatment and same-day hospitalization. In the multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for significant variables in the univariate analysis, isolated troponin elevation in two consecutive evaluations showed a hazard ratio= 0.43 (95%CI 0.17–0.96, p=0.039); hospitalization, previous antiplatelet treatment and age remained independently associated with mortality.Conclusions:Isolated troponin elevation in two consecutive measurements was a strong predictor of survival in ED patients with troponin elevation but without ACS.