Acute and Rapid Response of Melissa officinalis and Mentha spicata to Saline Reclaimed Water in Terms of Water Relations, Hormones, Amino Acids and Plant Oxylipins

The use of reclaimed water is considered an efficient tool for agricultural irrigation; however, the high salinity associated to this water could compromise plant quality and yields. Balm and spearmint plants were submitted for 15 days to three irrigation treatments in a controlled chamber: control with EC: 1.2 dS m^-1 (control), reclaimed water from secondary effluent (EC: 1.6 dS m^-1) (S) and water from secondary effluent with brine (EC: 4.4 dS m^-1) (SB). The plant water status, stomatal and hormonal regulation, nutritional response, concentration of amino acids and plant oxidative stress-based markers, as well as growth were evaluated. Both species irrigated with saline reclaimed water reduced leaf water potential and gas exchange in comparison with control plants, following 2 days of exposure to irrigation treatments. Nevertheless, spearmint plants recovered photosynthetic activity from the seventh day onwards, maintaining growth. This was attributed to hormonal changes and a greater accumulation of some amino acids and some plant oxylipins (phytoprostanes) in comparison to balm plants, which contributed to the improvement in the organoleptic and health-promoting properties of spearmint. A longer irrigation period with saline reclaimed water would be necessary to assess whether the quality of both species, especially spearmint, could further improve without compromising their growth.

Treatment adherence in patients older than 65 years who suffer early readmissions

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the frequency of therapeutic noncompliance in patients who  suffer early readmissions, and identify the factors associated with it.

METHOD

Observational, descriptive study of three months duration (March -  May 2014). All patients older than 65 years who readmitted in the 3-30 days  following the last hospital discharge were included. We excluded programmed  re-admissions and readmissions in the Intensive Care Unit. The variables  collected were: age, sex, medical service, major diagnostic category,  polypharmacy, number of days since the last hospital discharge, presence of  hypertension and/or diabetes. The therapeutic compliance and the difficulty in  the administration of medication were evaluated by means of the Morisky-Green  test and the Haynes-Sackett test respectively. A descriptive analysis of the  variables was carried out and they were related to the therapeutic adherence.  The variables with statistical significance were included in a multivariate logistic  regression model.

RESULTS

Fifty seven percent of the patients presented lack of adherence to  pharmacological treatment. Twenty three percent had difficulty administering the medication. Eighty six percent had comorbidities  (hypertension and/or diabetes) and 79% had a caregiver. Eighty six percent of patients were polymedicated (≥ 5 drugs). There is a relationship between lack of adherence and difficulty in the administration of medications (p=0.021),  polypharmacy (p=0.002), and the presence of diabetes mellitus (p=0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Polymedication, the presence of diabetes mellitus and the existence of difficulty in the administration of medication are evidenced as prognostic factors of the lack of adherence to treatment in patients older than 65 years.