Detection of SPM and IMP metallo-β-lactamases in clinical specimens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a Brazilian public tertiary hospital

Phenotypic and genotypic SPM and IMP metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) detection and also the determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) to imipenem, meropenem and ceftazidime were evaluated in 47 multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from clinical specimens. Polymerase chain reaction detected 14 positive samples to either blaSPM or blaIMP genes, while the best phenotypic assay (ceftazidime substrate and mercaptopropionic acid inhibitor) detected 13 of these samples. Imipenem, meropenem and ceftazidime MICs were higher for MBL positive compared to MBL negative isolates. We describe here the SPM and IMP MBL findings in clinical specimens of P. aeruginosa from the University Hospital of Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil, that reinforce local studies showing the high spreading of blaSPM and blaIMP genes among Brazilian clinical isolates. © 2011 Elsevier Editora Ltda.

Effect of dietary sodium restriction on body water, blood pressure, and inflammation in hemodialysis patients: a prospective randomized controlled study

Purpose: Accumulating evidence suggests an association between body volume overload and inflammation in chronic kidney diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary sodium reduction in body fluid volume, blood pressure (BP), and inflammatory state in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: In this prospective controlled study, adult patients on HD for at least 90 days and those with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≥0.7 mg/dl were randomly allocated into two groups: group A, which included 21 patients treated with 2 g of sodium restriction on their habitual diet; and group B, which included 18 controls. Clinical, inflammatory, biochemical, hematological, and nutritional markers were assessed at baseline and after 8 and 16 weeks. Results: Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the groups. Group A showed a significant reduction in serum concentrations of CRP, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 during the study period, while BP and extracellular water (ECW) did not change. In group B, there were no changes in serum concentrations of inflammatory markers, BP, and ECW. Conclusions: Dietary sodium restriction is associated with the attenuation of the inflammatory state, without changes in BP and ECW, suggesting inhibition of a salt-induced inflammatory response. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Evaluation of semen characteristics of the species Mazama americana in captivity

In recent years the concept of genomic resource banks has grown as a way of maintaining the genetic variability of populations, while the quality of cryopreservation of the gametes determines the effectiveness of such banks. However, the absence of basic knowledge regarding the physiology of species and their semen characteristics hampers the establishment of reproductive biotechnologies. Thus, this paper aimed to determine certain physicochemical (volume, colour, appearance, pH and osmolarity) and microscopic characteristics (mass movement, motility, vigour, concentration, and sperm morphology and morphometry) of semen of the species Mazama americana. To achieve this, five males of the species were used, and three semen samples per buck (electroejaculation) were collected at intervals of 2 weeks. The volume, pH and osmolarity of the ejaculate were 0.39 ± 0.14 mL, 6.90 ± 0.74 and 297.74 ± 19.10 mOsm/kg, respectively, while the values obtained for mass movement, motility, vigour and concentration were 3.33 ± 0.82; 69.6 ± 8.92%; 3.53 ± 0.50, and 244.07 ± 98.65 × 107/mL, respectively. Regarding the colour of the ejaculate, five samples were classified as ivory, two as yellowish, two as whitish and six as white. Regarding appearance, seven samples were considered creamy and eight, milky. Morphology was analysed in a humid chamber under phase contrast microscopy and 73.50 ± 5.57% of cells presented normal morphology, 8.37 ± 3.15% presented major defects and 18.13 ± 6.46% presented minor defects. To determine sperm morphometry, an optical microscope (Leica DM 5000B) and the Leica Qwin image analyser program were used, resulting in 8.09 ± 0.40, 4.65 ± 0.30, 2.81 ± 0.44 and 30.25 ± 3.02 m for length, largest width, smallest width and area, respectively. Copyright © CSIRO 2013.

Growth of calcium phosphate coating on Ti-7.5Mo alloy after anodic oxidation

Titanium and its alloys are widely used as biomaterials due to their mechanical, chemical and biological properties. To enhance the biocompatibility of titanium alloys, various surface treatments have been proposed. In particular, the formation of titanium oxide nanotubes layers has been extensively examined. Among the various materials for implants, calcium phosphates and hydroxyapatite are widely used clinically. In this work, titanium nanotubes were fabricated on the surface of Ti-7.5Mo alloy by anodization. The samples were anodized for 20 V in an electrolyte containing glycerol in combination with ammonium fluoride (NH4F, 0.25%), and the anodization time was 24 h. After being anodized, specimens were heat treated at 450 °C and 600°C for 1 h to crystallize the amorphous TiO2 nanotubes and then treated with NaOH solution to make them bioactive, to induce growth of calcium phosphate in a simulated body fluid. Surface morphology and coating chemistry were obtained respectively using, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), AFM and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was shown that the presence of titanium nanotubes induces the growth of a sodium titanate nanolayer. During the subsequent invitro immersion in a simulated body fluid, the sodium titanate nanolayer induced the nucleation and growth of nano-dimensioned calcium phosphate. It was possible to observe the formation of TiO2 nanotubes on the surface of Ti-7.5Mo. Calcium phosphate coating was greater in the samples with larger nanotube diameter. These findings represent a simple surface treatment for Ti-7.5Mo alloy that has high potential for biomedical applications. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.

Obtenção de fosfatos de cálcio pelo método biomimético sobre a superfície da liga Ti-6Al-4V modificada pelo laser Nd:YAG

In this work, surface modification of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy by irradiation with a Nd:YAG laser beam was studied. The matrix spacing was varied and the other parameters were kept constant. After theirradiation, the samples were immersed into SBF solution (Simulated Body Fluid) for 7 days at 37 ° C for nucleation and formation of calcium phosphates. After this period, the samples were subjected to a heat treatment at 600 °C. X-ray diffraction results indicated the formation of a mixture of phases containing hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate. Infrared analysis demonstrated the presence of bands related to hydroxyapatite. SEM micrographs showed that different matrix spacing used leads to the formation of different morphologies.The 0.01 cm spacing induced the formation of microspheres, characteristic of the hydroxyapatite phase, while for 0.02 cm spacing, only a non-homogeneous coating was obtained. Therefore, the use of laser in the production of active surfaces for deposition of bioceramics proved to be viable, and the final coating has potential for applications in the field of dental implants.

Avaliação de implantes dentários da liga experimental Ti-30Ta após tratamento de superfície biomimético e imobilização com bisfosfonato

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estudo da solubilidade de apatitas em meios de interesse biológico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do tratamento térmico em recobrimentos cerâmicos bioativos pelo método biomimético sobre titânio c.p. modificados pelo laser Nd:YAG

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Preparação de superfície bioativa na Liga Ti-7,5Mo para uso em Odontologia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Biocompatilibidade in vivo de implantes de titânio submetidos ao processo biomimético

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Plataforma inorgânica a base de apatitas de interesse biológico visando à liberação controlada de fármacos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Crescimento de nanotubos de TiO2 na superfície da liga Ti-7,5Mo empregando oxidação anódica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da maturidade pulmonar de cordeiros nascidos a termo e prematuros pela análise citológica, Test de Clements e contagem de corpos lamelares do líquido amniótico

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Characterization of calcium phosphate coating produced by biomimetic method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Scaffold nanoestruturado utilizando-se celulose bacteriana/fosfatos de cálcio para regeneração óssea

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ