Toxicidade de antibióticos no cultivo in vitro da batata em meios semi-sólido e líquido

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos fitotóxicos de antibióticos no crescimento e na taxa de multiplicação in vitro da batata. Brotações da cultivar Baronesa foram cultivadas em meio de multiplicação de consistência semi-sólida e líquida. O meio de multiplicação foi formado pelos sais e vitaminas de MS ao qual adicionou-se um dos seguintes antibióticos: ampicilina, cloranfenicol, estreptomicina e tetraciclina, previamente selecionados em razão da ação bactericida sobre contaminantes da cultura, nas concentrações de 0, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512 e 1.024 mg L-1. Por 21 dias os materiais foram mantidos em sala de crescimento a 25±2°C, 16 horas de luz e fluxo de radiação de 35 µmol m-2 s-1. Nos tratamentos em que se utilizou meio de cultura líquido, os frascos foram mantidos sob constante agitação em mesa agitadora do tipo orbital. A ampicilina foi o único antibiótico que não afetou a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimento dos explantes de batata em meio de multiplicação, podendo ser indicada para trabalhos de descontaminação in vitro dessa espécie. O aumento das concentrações de cloranfenicol, estreptomicina e tetraciclina no meio de cultura apresentou efeitos fitotóxicos severos sobre o crescimento e taxa de multiplicação do material vegetal.

Active packaging containing nisin and high pressure processing as post-processing listericidal treatments for convenience fermented sausages

Listeria monocytogenes was inoculated on the surface of sliced fermented sausages with no added sodium salt. The pathogen was progressively inactivated during the product shelf life (90 days). Antimicrobial packaging of fermented sausages with PVOH films containing nisin induced a more pronounced reduction of L. monocytogenes counts during refrigerated storage. HPP alone (600 MPa, 5 min, 12 °C) had no antimicrobial effect against L. monocytogenes at the studied conditions. Combination of HPP with antimicrobial packaging did not produce any extra protection against L. monocytogenes compared to antimicrobial packaging alone. The lack of effect of HPP on L. monocytogenes was attributed to a protective effect exerted by the low water activity of the product and its lactate content. These results reflect that antimicrobial packaging with the inclusion of nisin as a natural antimicrobial could be considered as an effective method to reduce the levels of L. monocytogenes in sliced fermented sausages with no added sodium salt

Geochemical evolution of active porphyry copper tailings impoundments : from alkaline deposition towards acidification

J. Smuda: Geochemical evolution of active porphyry copper tailings impoundments Thesis abstract Mine waste is the largest volume of materials handled in the world. The oxidation of sulfidic mine waste may result in the release of acid mine drainage (AMD) rich in heavy metals and arsenic to the environment, one of the major problems the mining industry is facing today. To control and reduce this environmental impact, it is crucial to identify the main geochemical and hydrological processes influencing contaminant liberation, transport, and retention. This thesis presents the results of a geochemical, mineralogical and stable isotope study (δ2H, δ18O, δ34S) from two active porphyry copper tailings impoundments in Mediterranean (Carén tailings impoundment, El Teniente mine, Central Chile) and hyper-arid climate (Talabre tailings impoundment, Chuquicamata, Northern Chile) from the deposition in alkaline environment (pH 10.5) towards acidification after several years of exposure. The major hydrological results were the identification of vertical contaminant and water transport in the uppermost, not water-saturated zone, triggered by capillary rise due to evaporation, and infiltration downwards due to new tailings deposition, and of horizontal transport in the groundwater zone. At the surface of the sedimented tailings, evaporation of pore water led to the precipitation of Na-Ca-Mg sulfates (e.g., gypsum, tenorite), in hyper-arid climate also halite. At the Carén tailings impoundment, renewed deposition in a 4-week interval inhibited a pH decrease below neutral values and the formation of an efflorescent salt crust. At the Talabre tailings impoundment, deposition breaks of several years resulted in the formation of acidic oxidation zones in the timeframe of less than 4 years. This process enabled the transport of liberated Cu, Zn, and Fe via capillary rise to the surface, where these metals precipitated as heavy-metal sulfates (e.g., devilline, krohnkite) and chlorides (eriochalcite, atacamite). Renewed depositing may dissolve efflorescent salts and transport liberated elements towards the groundwater zone. This zone was found to be highly dynamic due to infiltration and mixing with water from different sources, like groundwater, catchment water, and infiltration from superficial waters. There, Cu was found to be partially mobile due to complexation with Cl (in Cl-rich groundwater, Talabre) and dissolved organic matter (in zones with infiltration of catchment water rich in dissolved organic matter, Carén). A laboratory study on the isotopic fractionation of sulfur and oxygen of sulfate in different minerals groups (water-soluble sulfates, low- and high-crystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxides) contributed to the use of stable isotopes as tracer of geochemical and transport processes for environmental studies. The results highlight that a detailed geochemical, stable isotope and mineralogical study permits the identification of contamination processes and pathways already during the deposition of mine tailings. This knowledge allows the early planning of adequate actions to reduce and control the environmental impact during tailings deposition and after the closing of the impoundment. J. Smuda: Geochemical evolution of active porphyry copper tailings impoundments Résumé de these Les déchets miniers constituent les plus grands volumes de matériel gérés dans le monde. L'oxydation des déchets miniers sulfuriques peut conduire à la libération de drainages miniers acides (DMA) riches en métaux et arsenic dans l'environnement, ce qui est l'un des principaux problèmes de l'industrie minière aujourd'hui. Pour contrôler et réduire ces impacts sur l'environnement, il est crucial d'identifier les principaux processus géochimiques et hydrologiques influençant la libération, le transport et la rétention des contaminants. Cette thèse présente les résultats d'une étude géochimique, minéralogique et des isotopes stables (δ2H, δ18O, δ34S) sur des déchets miniers de 2 sites de dépôt actifs en climat méditerranéen (Dépôt de déchets de Carén, mine de El Teniente, Centre du Chili) et en climat hyper-aride (Dépôt de déchets de Talabre, mine de Chuquicamata, Nord du Chili). L'objectif était d'étudier l'évolution des déchets de la déposition en milieu alcalin (pH = 10.5) vers l'acidification après plusieurs années d'exposition. Le principal résultat hydrologique a été l'identification de 2 types de transport : un transport vertical de l'eau et des contaminants dans la zone non saturée en surface, induit par la montée capillaire due à l'évaporation et par l'infiltration subséquente de la déposition de sédiments frais ; et un transport horizontal dans la zone des eaux souterraines. À la surface des déchets, l'évaporation de l'eau interstitielle conduit à la précipitation de sulfates de Na-Ca-Mg (ex. gypse, ténorite) et halite en climat hyper-aride. Dans le site de Carén, une nouvelle déposition de déchets frais à 4 semaines intervalle a empêché la baise du pH en deçà des valeurs neutres et la formation d'une croûte de sels efflorescentes en surface. Dans le site de Talabre, les fentes de dessiccation des dépôts ont entraîné la formation d'une zone d'oxydation à pH acide en moins de 4 ans. Ce processus a permis la libération et le transport par capillarité de Cu, Zn, Fe vers la surface, où ces éléments précipitent sous forme de sulfates de métaux lourds (ex., dévilline, krohnkite) de chlorures (ex. ériochalcite, atacamite). Une nouvelle déposition de sédiments frais pourrait dissoudre ces sels et les transporter vers la zone des eaux souterraines. Cette dernière zone était très dynamique en raison du mélange d'eaux provenant de différentes sources, comme les eaux souterraines, l'eau de captage et l'infiltration des eaux superficielles. Egalement dans cette zone, le cuivre était partiellement mobile à cause de la formation de complexe avec le chlore (dans les zone riche en Cl, Talabre) et avec la matière organique dissoute (dans les zones où s'infiltre l'eau de captage riche en matière organique, Carén). Une étude en laboratoire sur le fractionnement des isotopes stables de sulfure et d'oxygène des sulfates dans différents groupes de minéraux (sulfates hydrosolubles, sulfures de oxy-hydroxyde de Fe(III) faiblement ou fortement cristallins) a permis d'apporter une contribution à leur utilisation comme traceurs dans l'étude des processus géochimiques et de transport lors d'études environnementales. Les résultats montrent qu'une étude détaillée de la géochimie, des isotopes stables et de la minéralogie permet d'identifier les processus et les voies de contamination déjà pendant la période de dépôt des déchets miniers. Cette connaissance permet de planifier, dès le début de l'exploitation, des mesures adéquates pour réduire et contrôler l'impact sur l'environnement pendant la période de dépôts de déchets miniers et après la fermeture du site.

Atividade microbiana em solo do semi-árido sob cultivo de Atriplex nummularia

Métodos para avaliar a atividade microbiana no solo são fundamentais no monitoramento ambiental de áreas degradadas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a atividade microbiana de solo do semi-árido cultivado com Atriplex nummularia Lindl. em áreas que receberam rejeito salino durante um e três anos, em comparação com um solo nativo, sem cultivo e não irrigada. O solo cultivado por três anos e que recebeu rejeito salino apresentou, no período seco, valores de pH, CE e atividade de hidrólise do diacetato de fluoresceína (FDA) superiores aos das demais áreas. No entanto, foi observada correlação negativa entre o carbono microbiano e os valores do quociente metabólico (qCO2). A biomassa microbiana e a fosfatase alcalina também foram superiores no solo cultivado por três anos e que recebeu rejeito salino em relação ao solo nativo sem irrigação, confirmando o desempenho de plantas halófitas na melhoria da qualidade do solo sob condições de estresse salino. O cultivo de A. nummularia constitui uma das alternativas para utilização de rejeito salino proveniente da dessalinização por osmose reversa.

Características de crescimento de cordeiros F1 para abate no semi-árido do Nordeste do Brasil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a influência do reprodutor nas características de crescimento de 303 cordeiros para abate, dos grupos genéticos ½ sangue Somalis Brasileira x Sem Raça Definida (SRD) e ½ sangue Santa Inês x SRD. Os animais foram pesados a intervalos de 14 dias, até o desmame na época seca, e até 140 dias de idade na época chuvosa. O grupo genético e o ano de nascimento não influenciaram (P>0,05) nenhuma das características avaliadas. O mês de nascimento influenciou (P<0,05) os pesos ao nascer, aos 56 dias de idade e ao desmame, e o ganho em peso até o desmame. Fevereiro foi o melhor mês para nascimento de cordeiros. Animais de nascimentos simples pesaram mais e ganharam mais peso (P<0,05) que os de nascimentos múltiplos, em todas as idades e intervalos de ganhos estudados, exceto no período compreendido entre o desmame e a idade de 140 dias. Os machos pesaram mais e ganharam mais peso que as fêmeas, tanto no período de cria como no pós-desmame. Os dois grupos genéticos avaliados são semelhantes quanto ao peso corporal e ao ganho em peso, tanto no período pré-desmame como no pós-desmame.

Long-term treatment of hypertension in man by an orally active angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

1. Captopril or SQ 14 225, administered orally twice a day, reduced the blood pressure of hypertensive patients whatever their clinical diagnosis and even when their plasma renin activity was 'normal' or low. 2. Long-term administration of captopril, either alone or together with diuretics, provides a powerful new tool with which to treat ambulatory hypertensive patients. 3. The renin system may play an important role in maintaining blood pressure in a majority of hypertensive patients.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD8 T cells are functionally and phenotypically different between latent infection and active disease

Purpose/Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) is the second worldwide leading cause of death from an infectious disease after HIV infection. Protective immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains poorly understood and the role of Mtb-specific CD8 T-cells is controversial. We performed comprehensive functional and phenotypic characterizations of Mtb-specific CD8 T-cell responses in 273 subjects with either latent Mtb infection (LTBI) or active TB disease (TB) to assess their profile and relevance in TB. Materials and methods: Using multi-parametric flow cytometry, we assessed Mtb-specific CD8 T-cell functional (production of IFNgamma, IL-2 and TNF-alpha; proliferation capacity and cytotoxicity) and phenotypic (T-cell differentiation and exhaustion) profiles in cells isolated from peripheral blood and correlated these profiles with distinct clinical presentations. Results: Mtb-specific CD8 T-cells were detected in most TB patients and few LTBI subjects (65% and 15%, respectively; P < 0.00001) and were of similar magnitude with a comparable cytokines profile (IFNg+TNFa+IL2-) in both groups. Mtb-specific CD8 T-cells were mostly TEMRA (CD45RA+ CCR7-) co-expressing 2B4 and CD160 in LTBI subjects and mostly TEM (CD45RA-CCR7-) lacking PD-1/ CD160/2B4 in TB patients. Furthermore, Mtb-specific CD8 T-cells mostly expressed very little perforin and granulysin but contained granzymes A and B or lacked all these cytotoxic markers in TB and LTBI subjects, respectively. However, in vitro expanded Mtb-specific CD8 T-cells acquired perforin, granulysin and granzymes. Finally, Mtb-specific CD8 T-cell responses were more robust and prone to proliferate in patients with extrapulmonary compared to pulmonary TB. Conclusions: The clinical status and TB presentation are associated to specific profiles of Mtb-specific CD8 T-cell responses, thus indicating distinct dynamics between the mycobacteria, the CD8 T-cell response and the clinical outcome. Our data shed light on the controversial reached by studies performed in human and animal models, thus advancing the current knowledge on the complex dynamic of TB immunity.

Viral suppression rates in salvage treatment with raltegravir improved with the administration of genotypic partially active or inactive nucleoside/tide reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are often administered in salvage therapy even if genotypic resistance tests (GRTs) indicate high-level resistance, but little is known about the benefit of these additional NRTIs. METHODS: The effect of <2 compared with 2 NRTIs on viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL) at week 24 was studied in salvage patients receiving raltegravir. Intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were performed; last observation carried forward imputation was used to deal with missing information. Logistic regressions were weighted to create a pseudopopulation in which the probability of receiving <2 and 2 NRTIs was unrelated to baseline factors predicting treatment response. RESULTS: One-hundred thirty patients were included, of whom 58.5% (n = 76) received <2 NRTIs. NRTIs were often replaced by other drug classes. Patients with 2 NRTIs received less additional drug classes compared with patients with <2 NRTIs [median (IQR): 1 (1-2) compared with 2 (1-2), P Wilcoxon < 0.001]. The activity of non-NRTI treatment components was lower in the 2 NRTIs group compared with the <2 NRTIs group [median (IQR) genotypic sensitivity score: 2 (1.5-2.5) compared with 2.5 (2-3), P Wilcoxon < 0.001]. The administration of <2 NRTIs was associated with a worse viral suppression rate at week 24. The odds ratios were 0.34 (95% confidence interval: 0.13 to 0.89, P = 0.027) and 0.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.05 to 0.79, P = 0.023) when performing the last observation carried forward and the per-protocol approach, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that partially active or inactive NRTIs contribute to treatment response, and thus the use of 2 NRTIs in salvage regimens that include raltegravir seems warranted.

Use of active personal dosemeters in interventional radiology and cardiology: Tests in laboratory conditions and recommendations - ORAMED project

Active personal dosemeters (APD) have been found to be very efficient tools to reduce occupational doses in many applications of ionizing radiation. In order to be used in interventional radiology and cardiology (IR/IC), APDs should be able to measure low energy photons and pulsed radiation with relatively high instantaneous personal dose equivalent rates. A study concerning the optimization of the use of APDs in IR/IC was performed in the framework of the ORAMED project, a Collaborative Project (2008-2011) supported by the European Commission within its 7th Framework Program. In particular, eight commercial APDs were tested in continuous and pulsed X-ray fields delivered by calibration laboratories in order to evaluate their performances. Most of APDs provide a response in pulsed mode more or less affected by the personal dose equivalent rate, which means they could be used in routine monitoring provided that correction factors are introduced. These results emphasize the importance of adding tests in pulsed mode in type-test procedures for APDs. Some general recommendations are proposed in the end of this paper for the selection and use of APDs at IR/IC workplaces.

Produção e sobrevivência de miniestacas e minicepas de erva-mate cultivadas em sistema semi-hidropônico

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade técnica do sistema semi-hidropônico para condução de minicepas de erva-mate e a resposta destas a soluções nutritivas de diferentes diluições nas sucessivas coletas, bem como, a sobrevivência das miniestacas produzidas neste sistema, após enraizamento. Depois de onze coletas, obteve-se 95,6% de sobrevivência das minicepas e média de 291 miniestacas m-2 de minijardim. As mudas obtidas por miniestaquia apresentaram média de 85,6% de sobrevivência, sem variação significativa entre as soluções testadas e número da coleta. O sistema adotado é tecnicamente viável, e recomenda-se a utilização de solução nutritiva menos concentrada.

Controle biológico de nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos em clima semi-árido pelo fungo Monacrosporium thaumasium

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade do fungo nematófago Monacrosporium thaumasium, no controle de larvas infectantes de nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos em campo, no Semi-Árido cearense. Uma área de 20 ha, com pasto recém-formado, livre de vermes, foi dividida em quatro piquetes de 5 ha. Em cada piquete, foi formado um grupo constituído por nove caprinos, onde cada animal recebeu os seguintes tratamentos, durante os meses de abril a junho de 2002: grupo 1, 10 g de péletes por via oral, semanalmente; grupo 2, 10 g de péletes por via oral, quinzenalmente; grupo 3, 0,5 mL de moxidectin por 25 kg de peso vivo; grupo 4, controle, não tratado. Mensalmente, dois caprinos traçadores foram colocados junto ao rebanho por 30 dias, e após esse período, foram sacrificados e necropsiados. O grupo de animais que recebeu o tratamento com o fungo uma vez por semana apresentou redução no número de ovos por grama de fezes, menor carga parasitária e maior ganho de peso, em relação aos animais dos demais grupos. O fungo M. thaumasium é eficiente no controle de larvas infectantes nas pastagens e pode ser utilizado no controle e profilaxia de nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos, no Semi-Árido cearense.

Adaptabilidade e estabilidade produtiva de genótipos de feijão-caupi de porte semi-ereto na Região Nordeste do Brasil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a adaptabilidade e a estabilidade da produtividade de grãos de 20 genótipos de feijão-caupi de porte semi-ereto, utilizando o modelo de efeitos aditivos principais e interação multiplicativa. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em 16 ambientes da Região Nordeste do Brasil. Os efeitos de genótipos, ambientes e da interação genótipo x ambiente, e os três primeiros eixos da análise de componentes principais (ACP) foram significativos. Os dois primeiros eixos da ACP explicaram juntos 55,11% da soma de quadrados da interação, correspondendo a 83,20% do padrão da interação genótipo x ambiente. As linhagens TE-97-321G-4, EVX-92-49E e EVX-63-10E apresentaram alta adaptabilidade, mas somente a última foi altamente previsível. A cultivar BRS Guariba e as linhagens EVX-92-49E e TE97-321G-4 expressam melhor potencial genético em ambientes de alta produtividade.