Hemojuvelin and Hepcidin Genes Sequencing in Brazilian Patients with Primary Iron Overload

Background: Most hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) patients are homozygous for the p. C282Y mutation in the HFE gene. Some studies reported that HH phenotypic expression could be modulated by genetic factors such as HJV and HAMP gene mutations. Aims: The aims of this study were to identify HJV and HAMP mutations and to analyze their impact on HH phenotype in non-p. C282Y homozygous individuals. Methods: Twenty-four Brazilian patients with primary iron overload and non-p. C282Y homozygous genotype (transferrin saturation >50% in women and >60% in men and absence of secondary causes) were selected. Subsequent bidirectional sequencing of the HJV and HAMP exons was performed. Results: Sequencing revealed a substitution in heterozygosis, c. 929C>G, which corresponds to p.A310G polymorphism in HJV exon 4 (rs7540883). In the same gene, in another individual, an IVS1-36C>G intronic variant was detected in heterozygosis. In the HAMP gene, an IVS3 + 42G>A intronic variant was identified. There were six (25.0%) patients carrying a heterozygous genotype for the HFE p. C282Y and nine (37.5%) patients carrying a heterozygous genotype for the HFE p. H63D. Conclusion: HJV p.A310G polymorphism and two intronic variants were found, but none of these alterations were associated with digenic inheritance with the HFE gene. Our data indicate that HJV and HAMP functional mutations are not frequent in these patients.

Obtenção de exoantígenos de Histoplasma capsulatum em meio de neopeptona, glicose, tiamina e asparagina (NGTA)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a produção de exoantígenos H e M das amostras 58, B-679, A-811 e O187 de Histoplasma capsulatum, utilizando o meio NGTA (neopeptona, glicose, tiamina e asparagina) em períodos de cultivo de 1, 2 e 3 meses, a 36ºC, sob agitação constante (50 v.p.m.). Os antígenos brutos foram avaliados contra anti-soro e antígeno de Histoplasma capsulatum de referência (Center for Disease Control), 4 soros de pacientes portadores de paracoccidioidomicose, 7 de histoplasmose e soro hiperimune anti-H. capsulatum produzido em coelhos, através da reação de imunodifusão dupla. Verificou-se que, com exceção de B-679 com 1 mês de crescimento, todos os demais exoantígenos apresentaram as frações H e M de precipitação. Os exoantígenos obtidos de A-811 apresentaram só a banda H. Excetuando-se os exoantígenos 58 e B-679 com 1 mês de crescimento, todos os demais exoantígenos reagiram contra soros de pacientes com histoplasmose. Em relação aos soros de pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose, somente os exoantígenos 58 e O187 não apresentaram reação cruzada. Todos os exoantígenos reagiram frente ao soro hiperimune de coelho anti-H. capsulatum. Para obtenção de exoantígenos de H. capsulatum, sugerimos que as amostras sejam cultivadas sob as condições anteriormente descritas, adotando-se o período de 3 meses de crescimento, utilizando-se exoantígenos de referência como controles da reação.

In vitro action of some disinfectants on Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast forms

The fungicidal action of sodium hypochlorite (0.3, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10%); formaldehyde (2, 5, and 10%); and ethyl alcohol (70%) on yeast forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Pb 18 and a newly-isolated Goiana strain was described. Contact between the fungus and the disinfectants was maintained for 1, 2, 24, 48 and 72 hours at room temperature. Viability was evaluated by the fluorescein diacetate-ethidium bromide treatment, culture in solid and liquid media (36ºC and 26ºC); yeast to mycelial germination at room temperature; and radiometric study of metabolic activity. All concentrations of disinfectants were found to be effective in inactivating Pb 18 and Goiana strains, except for the 1-hour contact with 2% formaldehyde, in which fluorescein diacetate-ethidium bromide treatment was found to reveal 40 and 27% of viable cells, respectively. The yeast to mycelial germination method was considered to reveal faster and similar results as compared to culture in solid and liquid media.

In vitro action of antiparasitic drugs, especially artesunate, against Toxoplasma gondii

INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasmosis is usually a benign infection, except in the event of ocular, central nervous system (CNS), or congenital disease and particularly when the patient is immunocompromised. Treatment consists of drugs that frequently cause adverse effects; thus, newer, more effective drugs are needed. In this study, the possible activity of artesunate, a drug successfully being used for the treatment of malaria, on Toxoplasma gondii growth in cell culture is evaluated and compared with the action of drugs that are already being used against this parasite. METHODS: LLC-MK2 cells were cultivated in RPMI medium, kept in disposable plastic bottles, and incubated at 36ºC with 5% CO2. Tachyzoites of the RH strain were used. The following drugs were tested: artesunate, cotrimoxazole, pentamidine, pyrimethamine, quinine, and trimethoprim. The effects of these drugs on tachyzoites and LLC-MK2 cells were analyzed using nonlinear regression analysis with Prism 3.0 software. RESULTS: Artesunate showed a mean tachyzoite inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.075µM and an LLC MK2 toxicity of 2.003µM. Pyrimethamine was effective at an IC50 of 0.482µM and a toxicity of 11.178µM. Trimethoprim alone was effective against the in vitro parasite. Cotrimoxazole also was effective against the parasite but at higher concentrations than those observed for artesunate and pyrimethamine. Pentamidine and quinine had no inhibitory effect over tachyzoites. CONCLUSIONS: Artesunate is proven in vitro to be a useful alternative for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, implying a subsequent in vivo effect and suggesting the mechanism of this drug against the parasite.

Preliminary observations on the effect of sudden changes of temperature on survival of young Matrinxã (Brycon cephalus) under laboratory conditions

Matrinxã is a very promising amazonian fish for fish culture in Brazil. This study is aimed at determining the approximate tolerated temperature range in this species. Groups of ten young matrinxã specimens (15.1±0.8 cm average length and 58.3±10.3 g average weight) were subjected to 9 different temperatures for 24 hours without previous acclimation. Fish were transferred from an initial temperature of 27ºC to those ranging from 12 to 39ºC at 3ºC intervals. Both 12ºC and 39ºC temperatures were lethal for this species with 100% mortality rate. Following 2 minutes of exposure to 39ºC fish changed behavior, showing an increase in opercular movements and erratic swimming; mortality reached 100% after 18 minutes. At 12ºC, fish lost equilibrium immediately after exposure and started swimming erratically; after only 4 minutes fish became lethargic and remained immobile on the bottom of the tank. Total mortality was only evident following 24 hours. At 15ºC matrinxã lost equilibrium after 5 to 6 minutes of exposure but mortality was only 20% after 24 hours. Fish tolerated well temperatures ranging from 18 to 36ºC with 100% survival after 24 hours. This preliminary study suggests that temperatures between 18 and 36ºC are the approximate range normally tolerated by this species, although survival at other temperatures may be increased by gradually acclimating fish to the more severe increases or decreases in temperature. In addition, it indicates that matrinxã may be cultivated over a wide geographical area.

Análisis del ciclo de vida de sistemas de tratamiento de aguas residuales: influencia de los materiales utilizados

En este proyecto se tiene como objetivo comparar una EDAR específica con otras tres, desde el punto de vista ambiental, y establecer diferentes alternativas. En particular, se ha evaluado la mejor alternativa en la obtención de energía eléctrica para la propia utilización de la planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales, a partir del biogás generado en el digestor en la línea de lodos. En este tipo de instalaciones, entre las alternativas tanto en su uso actual como en fase de desarrollo, el motor de cogeneración de electricidad y el calor es el más utilizado para obtener simultáneamente la electricidad necesaria para las instalaciones y el calor necesario para mantener el digestor de lodos a la temperatura de trabajo (36ºC aproximadamente). Las otras alternativas evaluadas en este estudio son las pilas de biogás de membrana electrolítica polimérica (en inglés Polymeric Electrolyte Membrane, PEM) y las pilas de óxidos sólidos (en inglés Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, SOFC) con una turbina de gas (sistema híbrido SOFC-GT). Por otro lado, se estudian las características de los materiales que componen los dispositivos MEC (microbial electrolysis cell) y las pilas PEM y SOFC, así como las ventajas e inconvenientes de usar estas nuevas tecnologías en el tratamiento de aguas residuales, así como la evaluación del impacto ambiental de la EDAR objeto de estudio, que se ha llevado a cabo utilizando el análisis de ciclo de vida (ACV). El ACV es una herramienta que permite comparar diferentes procesos o productos que tengan la misma función, y así evaluar la alternativa que conlleve una mejora en el medio ambiental. La metodología de ACV pretende evaluar en detalle el ciclo de vida completo de un producto o proceso. Un ACV se suele definir de tipo "cradle to grave" o "desde la cuna hasta la tumba" o bien de tipo "gate to gate", o "de puerta a puerta". En el primer caso el estudio analiza el ciclo de vida completo del sistema, dese el origen hasta el final, mientras que en el segundo caso el ACV no tiene en cuenta su disposición final (vertedero, reciclaje, etc.). Un estudio de ACV del primer tipo conlleva hacer un estudio muy detallado, que en la práctica puede resultar muy largo y laborioso por la dificultad de encontrar todos los datos necesarios. Por ello, muchos estudios de ACV que se encuentran en la literatura suelen ser del tipo "gate to gate". Además, hay que esablecer las fronteras del sistema a estudiar, ya que hay procesos que tienen muy poca contribución a las categorías de impacto ambiental. En una EDAR los principales procesos considerados en el ACV llevado a cabo son el consumo de productos químicos, de electricidad, la producción de lodos y su utilización como composta, el biogás y su utilización para producir electricidad, los residuos sólidos y las distintas emisiones al medio producidas por el propio funcionamiento de la EDAR. Las operaciones relacionadas indirectamente como el transporte de los lodos, de productos químicos, de los residuos sólidos y la infraestructura con una vida media de 30 años no influyen significativamente en los resultados, por ejemplo el transporte de los lodos con un camión a 30km contribuyen en menos de 1% en todas las categorías de impacto. De acuerdo con las normativas ISO series 14040 que regulan las pautas de un ACV, se establece una unidad funcional apropiada, o sea habitante equivalente, ya que es la más apropiada por tener en cuenta la carga contaminante en el agua a tratar, parámetro imprescindible para comparar EDARs. Redefiniendo las fronteras, se realiza un ACV del depósito del biogás sin tener en cuenta el resto de la instalación y se toma como unidad funcional m3 de biogás, en el caso concreto de obtener biogás mediante un dispositivo MEC, que maximiza la cantidad de hidrógeno en detrimento de la cantidad de metano contenido en el biogás, observándose que la contribución de un biogás con un alto contenido en hidrógeno y, por tanto bajo en metano, produce una mejora ambiental. Las categorías de impacto ambiental que tienen contribución son el calentamiento global y la oxidación fotoquímica; el dispositivo MEC hace quela contribución a estas categorías de impacto sea de un orden de magnitud inferior con respecto al biogás generado en un digestor. Además, si se produce la combustión del biogás, la única categoría de impacto que tiene contribución es la de calentamiento global; para una dispositivo MEC la contribución sigue siendo un orden de magnitud inferior con respecto al biogás de un digestor de lodos.

Embryonic development of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae): influence of different constant temperatures

Despite its vector importance little attention is given to Aedes aegypti embryonic development. In this study, temperature influence on time course of Ae. aegypti larvae hatching and egg viability were evaluated. The dormancy state at the end of embryogenesis could be interrupted with a proper stimulus. Temperatures tested ranged between 12-36°C; the maximum temperature limit is 35°C and the minimum one is below 12°C. Egg viability between 16-31°C was above 80%. The definition of physiological embryonic parameters at this temperature range corroborates Ae. aegypti presence on tropical and subtropical world regions.

Hipotermia em pacientes no período perioperatório

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os fatores que desencadeiam a hipotermia em pacientes em sala de operação e as manifestações em sala de recuperação anestésica. O estudo foi realizado em um hospital de grande porte da rede mista da cidade de Santos. A coleta de dados foi realizada em 30 pacientes adultos, com temperatura corpórea entre de 36ºC e 37,2ºC na entrada da sala de operações com procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos e anestesia geral. Os resultados demonstraram que os métodos preventivos de hipotermia mais utilizados foram a infusão venosa aquecida e a manta térmica. Na saída da sala de operação e até 30 minutos na sala de recuperação anestésica, os pacientes permaneceram hipotérmicos. As manifestações de hipotermia foram demonstradas pela hipoxemia e por tremores. Neste estudo, evidenciou-se que a hipotermia no paciente é desencadeada na sala de operação pela falta de medidas preventivas adequadas, acarretando complicações em período de recuperação anestésica.

Complicated intra-abdominal infections in Europe: preliminary data from the first three months of the CIAO Study.

The CIAO Study is a multicenter observational study currently underway in 66 European medical institutions over the course of a six-month study period (January-June 2012).This preliminary report overviews the findings of the first half of the study, which includes all data from the first three months of the six-month study period.Patients with either community-acquired or healthcare-associated complicated intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) were included in the study.912 patients with a mean age of 54.4 years (range 4-98) were enrolled in the study during the first three-month period. 47.7% of the patients were women and 52.3% were men. Among these patients, 83.3% were affected by community-acquired IAIs while the remaining 16.7% presented with healthcare-associated infections. Intraperitoneal specimens were collected from 64.2% of the enrolled patients, and from these samples, 825 microorganisms were collectively identified.The overall mortality rate was 6.4% (58/912). According to univariate statistical analysis of the data, critical clinical condition of the patient upon hospital admission (defined by severe sepsis and septic shock) as well as healthcare-associated infections, non-appendicular origin, generalized peritonitis, and serious comorbidities such as malignancy and severe cardiovascular disease were all significant risk factors for patient mortality.White Blood Cell counts (WBCs) greater than 12,000 or less than 4,000 and core body temperatures exceeding 38°C or less than 36°C by the third post-operative day were statistically significant indicators of patient mortality.

Le Roman de Renart

F. 1-48. Le Roman de Renart. Le manuscrit, qui a été doté du sigle O dans les différentes éditions, est incomplet de la fin et mixte, proposant une structure relativement inédite. Il a récemment fait l’objet d’une édition critique par Aurélie Barre : Édition critique et littéraire du manuscrit O du « Roman de Renart » ( f. fr. 12583), doctorat, Université Lyon III, 2005. F. 1a-14b. Branche I.F. 1a-7e. [Branche Ia : « Le jugement de Renart »]. « Pierres qui son enging et s’art / Mist es vers faire de Renart…-… Tant qu’il [re]fu en sa santé / Com il avoit devant esté ». – F. 7e-10b. [Branche Ib : « Le Siège de Maupertuis »]. « Messires Nobles l’empereres / Vint au chastel ou Renart ere …-… Et Renart ainsi s’en eschape, / Des or gart bien chascun sa chape ! ». – F. 10b-14b. [Branche Ic : « Renart teinturier, Renart jongleur »]. « Li rois a fait son ban crier, / Par tout plevir et afier …-… Puis fu Renart lonc tens en mue ; / Ne va, ne vient, ne se remue » (éd. Barre, p.117-233, v. 1-3217). . F. 14b-20bBranche II. F. 14b-20b. [Branche II : « Le duel judiciaire »]. « Messires Nobles li lions / O lui avoit toz ses barons …-… Et autre redirai aprés, / A itant de cestui vos lés » (éd. Barre, p. 235-289, v. 1-1522). F. 20b-25c. Branche III.F. 20b-22a. [Branche IIIa : « Renart et Chantecler »]. « Seignors, oï avez maint conte, / Que maint contierres vos aconte …-… Dou coc qui li est eschapez, / Quant il ne s’en est saoulez ». – F. 22a-22f. [Branche IIIb : « Renart et la mésange »]. « Que que cil se plaint et demente, / Atant es vos une mesenge …-… Assez a grant travail eü / de ce dont li est mescheü ». – F. 22f-23c. [Branche IIIc. « Renart et Tibert »]. « Que qu’il se plaint de s’aventure, / Qui li avient et pesme et dure …-… Tornez s’en est a mout grant paine …-… Si com aventure le maine ». – F. 23c-24e. [Branche IIId : « Renart et l’andouille »]. «Renart qui mout sot de treslüe, / Et qui mout ot grant fain eüe …-… Esfondree ert entr’eus la guerre, / Mes ne velt trive ne pes querre ». – F. 24e-25c. [Branche IIIe : « Tibert et les deux prêtres »]. « Thibert li chaz, dont je a dit, / Doute Renart assez petit …-… Qui touz nos a enfantosmez : / A paine en sui vis eschapez ! » (éd. Barre, p. 291-340, v. 1-1265). F. 25c-27d. Branche IV. F. 25c-26a. [Branche IVa : « Renart et Tiercelin »]. « Entre .II. mons, en une plangne / Tout droit au pié d’une montaigne …-… Fuiant s’en va les sauz menuz : / Ses anemis a confonduz ». – F. 26a-27d. [Branche IVb : « Le viol d’Hersent »]. « Cis plaiz fu ainsi deffinez / Et Renars s’est acheminez …-… Et est venuz a sa mesnie / Qui soz la roche est entasnie » (éd. Barre, p. 341-359, v. 1-524). F. 27d-29d. Branche V. [« Renart et les anguilles »]. « Seignors, ce fu en cest termine / Que li douz tens d’esté decline …-…Que de Renart se vengera / Ne jamés jor ne l’amera » (éd. Barre, p. 361-378, v. 1-514). F. 29d-31e. Branche VI. [« Le puits »]. « Prime covient tel chose dire / Dont je vos puisse faire rire …-… Et il le puet prandre en sa marge, / Sachiez qu’i li fera domage ! » (éd. Barre, p. 379-396, v. 1-537).. 31e-39c. Branche VII. F. 31e-32e. [Branche VIIa : « Le jambon enlevé »]. « [U]n jour issit hors de la lande / Isengrins por querre viande …-… .XV. jours va a grant baudour, / Onques Renars n’i fist sejour ». – F. 32c-32e. [Branche VIIb : « Renart et le grillon »]. « Renart s’en va tout son chemin. / Or veut (en) engignier Isengrin …-… Tornez s’en est grant aleüre / Et vet aillors querre droiture ». – F. 32e-36e. [Branche VIIc : « L’Escondit »]. « Atant s’apense d’une chose / Dont il sa fame sovent chose …-…Tant defoulé et tant batu / Qu’a Malpertuis l’ont enbatu ». – F. 36e-39c. [Branche VIId : « La confession de Renart »]. « Foux est qui croit sa male pense : / Mout remaint de ce que fox panse …-…L’escofle lor donne a mengier, / Qu’il en avoient grant mestier (éd. Barre, p. 397-470, v. 1-1960). F. 36c-48e. Branche VIII. [« Renart et Liétart »]. « Uns prestres de la Croiz en Brie, / Que Damediex doint bone vie …-… Ou au chiés ou a la parclose, / Qui n’est aüsés de la chose » (éd. Barre, p. 471-554, v. 1-2470). F. 48e. Branche IX (v. 1-86). [« Les Vêpres de Tibert »]. « Oiez une novele estoire / Qui bien doit estre en mémoire …-… Jel conterai a Hameline, / La foi et la reconnoissance… » (éd. Barre, p. 555-557, v. 1-85).

MARCADORES RAPD PARA MAPEAMENTO GENÉTICO E SELEÇÃO DE HÍBRIDOS DE CITROS

Os marcadores moleculares apresentam várias aplicações no melhoramento de plantas, permitindo uma série de análises genéticas. Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de estabelecer marcadores RAPD para serem utilizados em estudos de mapeamento genético e na seleção de híbridos entre tangerina-'Cravo' (Citrus reticulata Blanco) e laranja-'Pêra' (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck). Extraiu-se DNA de folhas dos parentais e de seis híbridos F1. As reações de amplificação foram preparadas em 13 uL de solução, constituída por tampão 1x GIBCO BRL; soluções 1,54 mM de MgCl2 e 0,2 mM de cada dNTP; 15 ng de cada 'primer'; 1,5 unidade de 'Taq DNA Polymerase' e 15 ng de DNA genômico. As reações foram realizadas em termocicladores programados para 36 ciclos de 1 min a 92ºC, 1 min a 36ºC, 2 min a 72ºC e 10 min de extensão a 72ºC. Foram testados 'primers' decâmeros arbitrários dos 'kits' A, AB, AT, AV, B, C, D, E, G, H, M, N, P, Q, R e U da Operon, sendo selecionados 113 por apresentarem polimorfismo, com número de marcadores variando de 1 a 6 por 'primer'. Esses 'primers' amplificaram 201 (23,13%) bandas polimórficas, aplicáveis no mapeamento genético e seleção de híbridos. A freqüência de 'primers' com 1; 2; 3; 4; 5 e 6 bandas polimórficas foi de 49,5%, 33,6%, 9,7%, 4,4%, 1,8% e 1,0%, respectivamente.

Standardized EEG interpretation accurately predicts prognosis after cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVE: To identify reliable predictors of outcome in comatose patients after cardiac arrest using a single routine EEG and standardized interpretation according to the terminology proposed by the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society. METHODS: In this cohort study, 4 EEG specialists, blinded to outcome, evaluated prospectively recorded EEGs in the Target Temperature Management trial (TTM trial) that randomized patients to 33°C vs 36°C. Routine EEG was performed in patients still comatose after rewarming. EEGs were classified into highly malignant (suppression, suppression with periodic discharges, burst-suppression), malignant (periodic or rhythmic patterns, pathological or nonreactive background), and benign EEG (absence of malignant features). Poor outcome was defined as best Cerebral Performance Category score 3-5 until 180 days. RESULTS: Eight TTM sites randomized 202 patients. EEGs were recorded in 103 patients at a median 77 hours after cardiac arrest; 37% had a highly malignant EEG and all had a poor outcome (specificity 100%, sensitivity 50%). Any malignant EEG feature had a low specificity to predict poor prognosis (48%) but if 2 malignant EEG features were present specificity increased to 96% (p < 0.001). Specificity and sensitivity were not significantly affected by targeted temperature or sedation. A benign EEG was found in 1% of the patients with a poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Highly malignant EEG after rewarming reliably predicted poor outcome in half of patients without false predictions. An isolated finding of a single malignant feature did not predict poor outcome whereas a benign EEG was highly predictive of a good outcome.

Cyanobacteria from the Baltic Sea and Finnish lakes as an energy source and modulators of bioenergetic pathways

Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria that inhabit in a wide range of environments. They are versatile and multifaceted organisms with great possibilities for different biotechnological applications. For example, cyanobacteria produce molecular hydrogen (H2), which is one of the most important alternatives for clean and sustainable energy. Apart from being beneficial, cyanobacteria also possess harmful characteristics and may become a source of threat to human health and other living organisms, as they are able to form surface blooms that are producing a variety of toxic or bioactive compounds. The University of Helsinki Culture Collection (UHCC) maintains around 1,000 cyanobacterial strains representing a large number of genera and species isolated from the Baltic Sea and Finnish lakes. The culture collection covers different life forms such as unicellular and filamentous, N2-fixing and non-N2-fixing strains, and planktonic and benthic cyanobacteria. In this thesis, the UHCC has been screened to identify potential strains for sustainable biohydrogen production and also for strains that produce compounds modifying the bioenergetic pathways of other cyanobacteria or terrestrial plants. Among the 400 cyanobacterial strains screened so far, ten were identified as high H2-producing strains. The enzyme systems involved in H2 metabolism of cyanobacteria were analyzed using the Southern hybridization approach. This revealed the presence of the enzyme nitrogenase in all strains tested, while none of them are likely to have contained alternative nitrogenases. All the strains tested, except for two Calothrix strains, XSPORK 36C and XSPORK 11A, were suggested to contain both uptake and bidirectional hydrogenases. Moreover, 55 methanol extracts of various cyanobacterial strains were screened to identify potent bioactive compounds affecting the photosynthetic apparatus of the model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis PCC 6803. The extract from Nostoc XPORK 14A was the only one that modified the photosynthetic machinery and dark respiration. The compound responsible for this effect was identified, purified, and named M22. M22 demonstrated a dual-action mechanism: production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under illumination and an unknown mechanism that also prevailed in the dark. During summer, the Baltic Sea is occupied by toxic blooms of Nodularia spumigena (hereafter referred to as N. spumigena), which produces a hepatotoxin called nodularin. Long-term exposure of the terrestrial plant spinach to nodularin was studied. Such treatment resulted in inhibition of growth and chlorosis of the leaves. Moreover, the activity and amount of mitochondrial electron transfer complexes increased in the leaves exposed to nodularin-containing extract, indicating upregulation of respiratory reactions, whereas no marked changes were detected in the structure or function of the photosynthetic machinery. Nodularin-exposed plants suffered from oxidative stress, evidenced by oxidative modifications of various proteins. Plants initiated strategies to combat the stress by increasing the levels of alpha-tocopherol, mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX), and mitochondrial ascorbate peroxidase (mAPX).

Hydrogen production from cassava processing wastewater in an anaerobic fixed bed reactor with bamboo as a support material

Attempting to associate waste treatment to the production of clean and renewable energy, this research sought to evaluate the biological production of hydrogen using wastewater from the cassava starch treatment industry, generated during the processes of extraction and purification of starch. This experiment was carried out in a continuous anaerobic reactor with a working volume of 3L, with bamboo stems as the support medium. The system was operated at a temperature of 36°C, an initial pH of 6.0 and under variations of organic load. The highest rate of hydrogen production, of 1.1 L.d-1.L-1, was obtained with application of an organic loading rate of 35 g.L-1.d-1, in terms of total sugar content and hydraulic retention time of 3h, with a prevalence of butyric and acetic acids as final products of the fermentation process. Low C/N ratios contributed to the excessive growth of the biomass, causing a reduction of up to 35% in hydrogen production, low percentages of H2 and high concentrations of CO2in the biogas.

Avaliação da dor na histeroscopia diagnóstica por vaginoscopia utilizando-se, como meio de distensão, solução salina à temperatura corporal: Ensaio clínico randomizado

OBJETIVO: comparar a histeroscopia diagnóstica por vaginoscopia com soro fisiológico na temperatura corporal com a técnica tradicional, em relação à dor, satisfação da paciente e exeqüibilidade do procedimento. MÉTODOS: ensaio clínico randomizado, envolvendo 184 mulheres, encaminhadas entre maio e dezembro de 2006, para serem submetidas à histeroscopia diagnóstica. As participantes foram randomizadas para realizar o procedimento pela técnica proposta, com acesso por vaginoscopia, sem espéculo ou pinçamento do colo e utilizando soro fisiológico a 36ºC como meio distensor, ou pela técnica tradicional, utilizando CO2.Em ambas as técnicas, foi utilizada óptica de 2,7 mm. A dor foi avaliada pela escala visual analógica (EVA), durante e a cada cinco minutos após o procedimento. RESULTADOS: a dor, na técnica proposta, teve pontuação média de 1,60 e, na técnica tradicional, de 3,39 (p<0,01). Menores escores de dor também foram observados após 5, 10 e 15 minutos (p<0,01), bem como após 20 minutos (p=0,056). Na técnica proposta, 82,4% dos exames foram exeqüíveis, e, na técnica tradicional, 84,9% (p=0,6). A satisfação com o procedimento foi de 88,7% na técnica proposta e 76,3% na técnica tradicional (p<0,05). CONCLUSÕES: a histeroscopia pela técnica proposta resultou em menos dor, exeqüibilidade comparável e maior satisfação das pacientes.