Showing papers by "Universidade Estadual de Londrina published in 2007"

Histopathology of gills, kidney and liver of a Neotropical fish caged in an urban stream

Abstract: Histological changes in gills, kidney and liver were used to evaluate the health of the Neotropical fish species Prochilodus lineatus, subjected to in situ tests for 7 days in a disturbed urban stream and in a reference site, during winter and summer. In fish caged in the urban stream the most common lesions were epithelial lifting, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the respiratory epithelium, lamellar fusion, and aneurysms in the gills; enlargement of the glomerulus, reduction of Bowman's space, occlusion of the tubular lumen, cloudy swelling and hyaline droplet degeneration in the kidneys; hepatocytes with hypertrophy, cytoplasmic and nuclear degeneration, melanomacrophage aggregates, bile stagnation and one case of focal necrosis in the liver. The lesions were comparatively most severe in the liver. Histopathology showed to be a very suitable biomarker for use in conjugation with the in situ test, because the seasonal variation did not interfere in the results and it was possible to differentiate the sites in the urban stream from the reference site.

Diversidade da ictiofauna do Alto Rio Paraná: composição atual e perspectivas futuras

Abstract: Langeani, F., Castro, R.M.C., Oyakawa, O.T., Shibatta, O.A., Pavanelli, C.S. & Casatti, L. Ichthyofauna diversity of the upper rio Parana: present composition and future perspectives. Biota Neotrop. Sep/Dez 2007 vol. 7, no. 3 http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n3/pt/abstract?article+bn03407032007. ISSN 1676-0603. A synthesis concerning fishes from Upper Parana River basin is presented, based on data from fish-collections, literature, and new field samples. Three hundred and ten species, pertaining to 11 orders and 38 families, are referred to the drainage, elevating anterior estimates. Concerning total species, 236 (76.1%) are autochthonous, 67 (21.6%) are allochthonous, and seven (2.3%) are exotic. Principal causes of occurrence of non-native species are: a) dispersal from the Lower Parana, after the construction of Itaipu dam, and b) escapes from aquaculture farms. Most species (65%) are small-sized, having less than 21 cm of length, and the great majority occurs only in headwaters and small streams. One of the best known and most studied in Brazil, Upper Parana ichthyofauna richness is far from reaching actual numbers, considering the exponential elevation of species presented herein. Indeed, in the last years various new species have been described and around 50 other species, already recognized as new, are now under description. The improvement on the knowledge about Upper Parana ichthyofauna is proportional to the number of researchers involved with studies in the area and, unequivocally, reflects recent initiatives stimulating and incrementing taxonomic research, and also improving access to fish collections and to poor or never-sampled areas. However, if we are going to maintain the number of species descriptions per year of last decade, the 50 new species already recognized, will be described only in the next ten years, a period too long. In consequence it is very important that scientific community and grant agencies find and offer initiatives in order to elevate the number of new taxa descriptions per year.

Acute lethal and sublethal effects of neem leaf extract on the neotropical freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the toxicity of the aqueous extract of neem leaves, a product extensively used in fish-farms as alternative for the control of fish parasites and fish fry predators, for the neotropical fish Prochilodus lineatus . The 24 h LC 50 of neem leaf extract for juveniles P. lineatus was estimated as 4.8 g L − 1 ; the fish were then exposed for 24 h to 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 g L − 1 or only clean water (control). Plasma glucose levels were higher in fish exposed to 2.5 g L − 1 and 5.0 g L − 1 neem extract, relative to control, indicating a typical stress response. Neem extract did not interfere with the osmoregulating capacity of the fish, as their plasma sodium, chloride, total protein and osmolarity did not change. The presence of the biopesticide interfered with the antioxidant defense system of P. lineatus , as there was a decrease in liver catalase activity at all neem concentrations and the detoxifying enzyme glutathione- S -transferase was activated in fish exposed to 5.0 g L − 1 . Fish exposed to all neem extract concentrations exhibited damaged gill and kidney tissue. These results indicate that although neem extract is less toxic to P. lineatus than other synthetic insecticides used in fish-farming it does cause functional and morphological changes in this fish species.

Behavioral Evaluation of Male and Female Mice Pups Exposed to Fluoxetine during Pregnancy and Lactation

Abstract: Background/Aims: Fluoxetine (FLX) has been widely prescribed for depression during pregnancy and/or lactation. Since serotonin is a neurotrophic factor, the use of FLX by mothers co

Balneotherapy for osteoarthritis.

Abstract: Background Balneotherapy (or spa therapy, mineral baths) for patients with arthritis is one of the oldest forms of therapy. One of the aims of balneotherapy is to soothe the pain and as a consequence to relieve patients' suffering and make them feel well. In this update we included one extra study. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of balneotherapy for patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Search methods We searched the following databases up to October 2006: EMBASE, PubMed, the Cochrane 'Rehabilitation and Related Therapies' Field database, PEDro, CENTRAL (Issue 3, 2006) and performed reference checking and communicated with authors to retrieve eligible studies. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing balneotherapy with any intervention or no intervention. At least 90% of the patient population had to be diagnosed with OA. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently assessed quality and extracted data. Disagreements were solved by consensus. In the event of clinical heterogeneity or lack of data we refrained from statistical pooling. Main results Seven trials (498 patients) were included in this review. Two studies compared spa-treatment with no treatment. One study evaluated baths as an add-on treatment to home exercises and another compared thermal water from Cserkeszolo with tap water (placebo). Three studies evaluated sulphur or Dead Sea baths with no treatment or mineral baths with tap water baths or no treatment. Only one of the trials performed an intention-to-treat analysis and two studies provided data to perform an intention-to-treat analysis ourselves. A 'quality of life' outcome was reported by one trial. We found: silver level evidence concerning the beneficial effects on pain, quality of life and analgesic intake of mineral baths compared to no treatment (SMD between 1.82 and 0.34). a statistically significant difference in pain and function of Dead Sea + sulphur versus no treatment, only at end of treatment (WMD 5.7, 95%CI 3.3 to 8.1), but not at 3 month follow-up (WMD 2.6, 95%CI -1.1 to 6.3). no statistically significant differences in pain or function at one or three months of Dead Sea baths versus no treatment (WMD 0.5, 95%CI -0.6 to 1.6) or at one or three months of sulphur baths versus no treatment (WMD 0.4, 95%CI -0.9 to 1.7). Adverse events were not measured in the included trials. Authors' conclusions We found silver level evidence (www.cochranemsk.org) concerning the beneficial effects of mineral baths compared to no treatment. Of all other balneological treatments no clear effects were found. However, the scientific evidence is weak because of the poor methodological quality and the absence of an adequate statistical analysis and data presentation. Therefore, the noted "positive findings" should be viewed with caution.

Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of diesel oil water soluble fraction on a neotropical fish species.

Abstract: Numerous spills and leakages involving petroleum and its derivatives have recently occurred in Brazilian rivers. Considering the lack of information regarding the genotoxic response of neotropical fish to these events and the predominance of information regarding saltwater fish, which offers no genuine comparisons, the present work aimed to evaluate the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of the diesel water soluble fraction (DWSF) on the neotropical fish Prochilodus lineatus under acute (6, 24 and 96 h) and subchronic (15 days) exposures, using the comet (SCGE) and micronucleus assays. The results indicated genotoxic and mutagenic damage in erythrocytes of P. lineatus exposed to DWSF. Comet scores for fish exposed to DWSF in all experimental periods were significantly higher than the respective negative control groups (fish exposed to clean water for the same period). The relative frequencies of micronucleated erythrocytes for P. lineatus exposed to DWSF under acute and subchronic treatment were also significantly higher than their respective negative controls. Taken together these results showed that acute and subchronic exposures to DWSF produce mutagenic and genotoxic effects on the blood cells of P. lineatus and that the combination of comet and micronucleus assays proved to be both suitable and useful in the evaluation of the genotoxicity of diesel oil due to their complementary action.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] rhizobial diversity in Brazilian oxisols under various soil, cropping, and inoculation managements

Abstract: In this study, soybean nodules were collected from 12 sites in the State of Mato Grosso, in the Brazilian Cerrados, where both exotic soybean [Glycine max (L) Merrill] and bradyrhizobial strains have been introduced from 1 to 18 years before All soils were originally devoid of rhizobia capable of effectively nodulating soybean and varied in terms of chemical and physical properties, inoculation procedures, and cropping systems Rhizobial genetic diversity was assessed on 240 isolates by rep-PCR fingerprinting with BOX primer, and indices of diversity (abundance-based coverage estimator and traditional and modified Shannon indices) were applied to the profiles obtained The genetic diversity was much greater than expected, as after the introduction of a maximum of four strains, up to 13 profiles were identified, some sharing many similar bands with the inoculant strains, but others quite distinct from the putative parental genotypes The increase in the number of rep-PCR profiles could be attributed to genetic variability due to the stressful tropical environmental conditions, but also might indicate that indigenous rhizobia become capable of nodulating the host legume After the third year of cropping with the host legume, inoculation did not affect rhizobial diversity A high content of clay decreased diversity in comparison with that seen in a sandy soil, probably due to reduced aeration Diversity was higher under the no-tillage system when compared to the conventional tillage management, highlighting the importance of maintaining crop residues in tropical soils Understanding the ecology of exotic rhizobia after being introduced into new cropping areas represents a first step towards the establishment of better strategies of inoculation, which in turn may result in sustainability and higher plant yields

Mycorrhiza and soil bacteria influence extractable iron and manganese in soil and uptake by soybean

Abstract: Excess manganese (Mn) in soil is toxic to crops, but in some situations arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alleviate the toxic effects of Mn. Besides the increased phosphorus (P) uptake, mycorrhiza may affect the balance between Mn-reducing and Mn-oxidizing microorganisms in the mycorrhizosphere and affect the level of extractable Mn in soil. The aim of this work was to compare mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants that received extra P in relation to alleviation of Mn toxicity and the balance between Mn-oxidizing and Mn-reducing bacteria in the mycorrhizosphere. A clayey soil containing 508 mg kg−1 of extractable Mn was fertilized with 30 mg kg−1 (P1) or 45 mg kg−1 (P2) of soluble P. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill, cv. IAC 8-2) plants at P1 level were non-inoculated (CP1) or inoculated with either Glomus etunicatum (GeP1) or G. macrocarpum (GmP1), while plants at P2 level were left non-inoculated (CP2). Plants were grown in a greenhouse and harvested after 80 days. In the mycorrhizosphere of the GmP1 and GeP1 plants a shift from Mn-oxidizing to Mn-reducing bacteria coincided with higher soil extractability of Mn and Fe. However, the occurrence of Mn-oxidizing/reducing bacteria in the (mycor)rhizosphere was unrelated to Mn toxicity in plants. Using 16S rDNA sequence homologies, the Mn-reducing isolates were consistent with the genus Streptomyces. The Mn-oxidizers were homologous with the genera Arthrobacter, Variovorax and Ralstonia. While CP1 plants showed Mn toxicity throughout the whole growth period, CP2 plants never did, in spite of having Fe and Mn shoot concentrations as high as in CP1 plants. Mycorrhizal plants showed Mn toxicity symptoms early in the growth period that were no longer visible in later growth stages. The shoot P concentration was almost twice as high in mycorrhizal plants compared with CP1 and CP2 plants. The shoot Mn and Fe concentrations and contents were lower in GmP1 and GeP1 plants compared with the CP2 treatment, even though levels of extractable metals increased in the soil when plants were mycorrhizal. This suggests that mycorrhiza protected its host plant from excessive uptake of Mn and Fe. In addition, higher tissue P concentrations may have facilitated internal detoxification of Mn in mycorrhizal plants. The exact mechanisms acting on alleviation of Mn toxicity in mycorrhizal plants should be further investigated.

Antiviral activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts and of an isolated polysaccharide from Agaricus brasiliensis against poliovirus type 1

Abstract: Aims: Agaricus brasiliensis (previously named Agaricus blazei ss. Heinem), also known as the sun mushroom is native of Southeast Brazil, and is widely consumed, mainly in the form of tea, due to its nutritional and pharmacological properties. In this study, we tested aqueous (AqE) and ethanol (EtOHE) extracts and an isolated polysaccharide (PLS) from the fruiting body of A. brasiliensis, for antiviral activity against poliovirus type 1 in HEp-2 cells. Methods and Results: The evaluation of the time of addition by plaque assay showed that when AqE, PLS and EtOHE were added, just after the virus inoculation (time 0 h), there was a concentration-dependent reduction in the number of plaques up to 50%, 67% and 88%, respectively, with a selectivity index (SI) of 5·4, 9·9 and 12·3, respectively. Conclusions: The test substances showed antiviral activity and were more effective when added during the poliovirus infection. As they had little effect on reducing viral adsorption and did not show any virucidal effect, we suggest that they act at the initial stage of the replication of poliovirus. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results corroborate that basidiomycetes can be a rich source of potential antiviral compounds.

Prevalência e caracterização da dor crônica em idosos não institucionalizados

Abstract: Os objetivos deste estudo foram: determinar a prevalencia da dor cronica em idosos servidores municipais e caracterizar esta dor quanto ao local, intensidade, duracao, frequencia do episodio e horario preferencial. Estudo transversal de base populacional realizado em area urbana de Londrina, Parana, Brasil. A populacao pesquisada foi de 451 idosos servidores municipais. A coleta de dados foi realizada por entrevista domiciliar, aplicada ao idoso. Considerou-se dor cronica toda dor com duracao igual ou superior a seis meses, e idoso, todo servidor com mais de sessenta anos. Constatou-se prevalencia de dor cronica de 51,44%. Os locais de dores mais frequentes foram: regiao dorsal (21,73%) e membros inferiores (21,5%). A dor em regiao dorsal foi descrita como diaria (31,63%), continua ou com duracao entre 1 e 6 horas (19,39%), leve (50%) e sem horario preferencial (56,12%). Dor em membros inferiores foi descrita como diaria (42,27%), com duracao variavel (32,99%) ou continua (22,68%), leve (53,61%) e sem horario preferencial (48,45%). Evidenciou-se alta prevalencia de dor cronica em idosos. As caracteristicas da dor observadas podem interferir na qualidade de vida dessa populacao, impondo sofrimento desnecessario.

Challenges of treatment adherence by people living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil

Abstract: OBJETIVO: Analisar as dificuldades referentes a adesao ao tratamento de pacientes vivendo com HIV/Aids em terapia anti-retroviral altamente ativa. METODOS: Pesquisa qualitativa baseada em 34 entrevistas com pacientes em tratamento de diversos servicos ambulatoriais do estado de Sao Paulo em 1998-1999. O grupo compreendeu pessoas de diferentes niveis socioeconomicos, sexo, tempo no tratamento e diferentes graus de adesao de acordo com a percepcao da equipe de saude. As entrevistas foram focalizadas na narrativa do paciente sobre sua doenca. A analise de conteudo classificou as dificuldades relacionadas a fatores sociais e do estilo de vida, incluindo o estigma; a crencas acerca do uso da medicacao; e diretamente ao uso da medicacao. RESULTADOS: Todos os entrevistados relataram dificuldades relacionadas ao estigma de viver com HIV/Aids. As dificuldades relacionadas ao uso da medicacao predominaram entre pacientes com melhor adesao. Pacientes com aderencia media apresentaram os tres tipos de dificuldade. CONCLUSOES: Os fatores sociais e culturais sao mais dificeis de serem superados para adesao ao tratamento do que aqueles relacionados a tomar a medicacao, o que torna importante o papel desempenhado pelo setor saude, apoiado por politicas publicas sociais claras. Essas dimensoes devem ser enfrentadas nao somente no setor saude, mas tambem nos âmbitos politico e social.

Pullout Resistance of Individual Longitudinal and Transverse Geogrid Ribs

Abstract: This paper presents an evaluation of the soil-geogrid interaction, conducted to quantify the contributions of passive and interface shear mechanisms to the overall pullout resistance of geogrids. An experimental testing program was conducted in this investigation using both large-scale and newly developed individual-rib pullout devices. The large-scale pullout tests were conducted using uneasily coated geogrid specimens with and without transverse ribs. On the other hand, the individual-rib pullout tests were conducted using individual longitudinal and transverse ribs. A stress transfer model was implemented to predict the results of large-scale pullout tests using the parameters obtained from the individual-rib pullout tests. Good agreement was obtained between the results of large-scale pullout tests and the predictions obtained using parameters collected from individual-rib tests. For the dense mesh geogrids used in this investigation, the development of passive mechanisms in front of geogrid transverse ribs was found to influence significantly the interface shear mechanisms that develop along longitudinal ribs.

Ischaemia and reperfusion effects on skeletal muscle tissue: morphological and histochemical studies.

Abstract: This was a study on the oxidative stress due to ischaemia (I) and reperfusion (R) in skeletal muscle tissue. Using a tourniquet, groups of rats were submitted to ischaemia for 4 h, followed by different reperfusion periods. The animals were divided in four groups: control; 4 h of ischaemia (IR); 4 h of ischaemia plus 1 h reperfusion (IR-1 h); 4 h of ischaemia plus 24 h reperfusion (IR-24 h); and 4 h of ischaemia plus 72 h reperfusion (IR-72 h). At the end of the procedures, samples of soleus muscle were collected and frozen in n-hexane at -70 degrees C. Cryostat sections were submitted to haematoxylin-eosin, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR) stains. An additional muscle sample was processed for electron microscopy. No alterations were found in control animals. IR group showed fibres had normal aspect besides some round, acidophilic and hypertrophic fibres. There were several fibres with angular outlines and smaller diameters in this group compared with control group. NADH-TR/SDH reaction was moderately intense in most fibres. In some fibres, cytoplasm showed areas without activity and other fibres had very intense reactivity. IR-1 h group showed oedema hypercontracted fibres with disorganized myofibrils, mitochondria with focal lesions and dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum. NADH-TR/SDH reaction was moderate to weak. IR-24 h showed intense inflammatory infiltrate in the endomysium and perimysium. NADH-TR/SDH reaction was similar to IR-1 h. IR-72 h showed necrotic fibres, areas with inflammatory infiltrate, reduced muscle fibres at different stages of necrosis and phagocytosis, and many small round and basophilic fibres characterizing a regeneration process. NADH-TR/SDH reaction was weak to negative. Our results suggest that ischaemia and the subsequent 1-, 24- and 72-h reperfusions induced progressive histological damage. Although progressive, it may be reversible because there were ultrastructural signs of recovery after 72-h reperfusion. This recovery could in part be due to the low oxidative stress identified by the morphological and histochemical analysis.

Variability in Bradyrhizobium japonicum and B. elkanii seven years after introduction of both the exotic microsymbiont and the soybean host in a cerrados soil.

Abstract: The plasticity of rhizobial genomes is far greater than previously thought, with complex genomic recombination events that may be accelerated by the often stressful environmental conditions of the tropics. This study aimed at evaluating changes in soybean rhizobia due to adaptation to inhospitable environmental conditions (high temperatures, drought, and acid soils) in the Brazilian Cerrados. Both the host plant and combinations of four strains of soybean Bradyrhizobium were introduced in an uncropped soil devoid of rhizobia capable of nodulating soybean. After the third year, seeds were not reinoculated. Two hundred and sixty-three isolates were obtained from nodules of field-grown soybean after the seventh year, and their morphological, physiological, serological, and symbiotic properties determined, followed by genetic analysis of conserved and symbiotic genes. B. japonicum strain CPAC 15 (same serogroup as USDA 123) was characterized as having high saprophytic capacity and competitiveness and by the seventh year represented up to 70% of the cultivable population, in contrast to the poor survival and competitiveness of B. japonicum strain CPAC 7 (same serogroup as CB 1809). In general, adapted strains had increased mucoidy, and up to 43% of the isolates showed no serological reaction. High variability, presumably resulting from the adaptation to the harsh environmental conditions, was verified in rep-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) profiles, being lower in strain CPAC 15, intermediate in B. elkanii, and higher in CPAC 7. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR types of the 16S rDNA corresponded to the following: one type for B. elkanii species, two for B. japonicum, associated to CPAC 15 and CPAC 7, and unknown combinations of profiles. However, when nodC sequences and RFLP-PCR of the nifH region data were considered, only two clusters were observed having full congruence with B. japonicum and B. elkanii species. Combining the results, variability was such that even within a genetically more stable group (such as that of CPAC 15), only 6.4% of the isolates showed high similarity to the inoculant strain, whereas none was similar to CPAC 7. The genetic variability in our study seems to result from a variety and combination of events including strain dispersion, genomic recombination, and horizontal gene transfer. Furthermore, the genetic variability appears to be mainly associated with adaptation, saprophytic capacity, and competitiveness, and not with symbiotic effectiveness, as the similarity of symbiotic genes was higher than that of conserved regions of the DNA.

Root mycorrhizal colonization and plant responsiveness are related to root plasticity, soil fertility and successional status of native woody species in southern Brazil

Abstract: Twelve native woody species were studied to investigate the influences of soil fertility and root morphology on colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi during seedling establishment and growth. Seedlings were grown in soils of low and high natural fertility, uninoculated or inoculated with AM fungi, under greenhouse conditions. The mycorrhizal root colonization and plant responsiveness were higher among early successional species than late successional ones. Among early successional species, in both soils, mycorrhizal colonization provided significant increase in total dry mass, growth rates of shoot and root, root length, density of root tissues, root surface area and P concentration and content in the shoot. Early successional species grown with AM fungi displayed significant decreases in carbon allocation to roots, specific root length and the length and incidence of root hairs. Mycorrhizal colonization did not affect the root morphology of the late successional species in either soil. The growth of these woody species was influenced by differences in soil fertility. There was positive correlation between the degree of plant responses to AM inoculation with the percentage of root colonized by AM fungi. In both soils, plant responsiveness and mycorrhizal root colonization correlated positively to root-hair incidence and root-hair length and correlated negatively to fine-root diameter. The results suggest that during the establishment of seedlings, the large responses to the inoculation and colonization of roots by AM fungi are related to both the successional status and root morphological plasticity of the host plant, regardless of soil fertility.

Amino Acid Interaction with and Adsorption on Clays: FT-IR and Mössbauer Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffractometry Investigations

Abstract: In the present paper, the adsorption of amino acids (Ala, Met, Gln, Cys, Asp, Lys, His) on clays (bentonite, kaolinite) was studied at different pH (3.00, 6.00, 8.00). The amino acids were dissolved in seawater, which contains the major elements. There were two main findings in this study. First, amino acids with a charged R group (Asp, Lys, His) and Cys were adsorbed on clays more than Ala, Met and Gln (uncharged R groups). However, 74% of the amino acids in the proteins of modern organisms have uncharged R groups. These results raise some questions about the role of minerals in providing a prebiotic concentration mechanism for amino acids. Several mechanisms are also discussed that could produce peptide with a greater proportion of amino acids with uncharged R groups. Second, Cys could play an important role in prebiotic chemistry besides participating in the structure of peptides/proteins. The FT-IR spectra showed that the adsorption of amino acids on the clays occurs through the amine group. However, the Cys/clay interaction occurs through the sulfhydryl and amine groups. X-ray diffractometry showed that pH affects the bentonite interlayer, and at pH 3.00 the expansion of Cys/bentonite was greater than that of the samples of ethylene glycol/bentonite saturated with Mg. The Mossbauer spectrum for the sample with absorbed Cys showed a large increase (∼20%) in ferrous ions. This means that Cys was able to partially reduce iron present in bentonite. This result is similar to that which occurs with aconitase where the ferric ions are reduced to Fe 2.5.

Weight Loss Outcome After Silastic Ring Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: 8 Years of Follow-up

Abstract: An underlying major aim of bariatric surgery is weight loss and its long-term maintenance. In spite of this, most studies regarding weight loss after surgical treatment of morbid obesity show 3-year follow-up results. We evaluated the effectiveness of silastic ring Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (SR-RYGBP) in promoting significant weight loss after an 8-year follow-up at the Londrina State University Hospital. From May 1999 to December 2000, 211 morbidly obese patients were submitted to SR-RYGBP by the same surgical team. The study’s design was longitudinal, prospective, and descriptive. The analysis of postoperative weight decrease was based on excess weight loss in percentage (%EWL) and the calculation of body mass index. Therapeutic failure was considered when patients lost <50% of excess weight. Patients lost to follow-up were 36.5%; therefore, 134 patients were included in this study. The average global EWL was 67.6 ± 14.9% on the first postoperative year, 72.6 ± 14.9% on the second year, 69.7 ± 15.1% on the fifth postoperative year, and 66.8 ± 7.6% on the eight postoperative year. Surgical treatment failure occurred in 15 patients (7.1%) over 8 years. SR-RYGBP was effective in promoting and maintaining weight loss in the long term with a low failure rate.

Influence of nutrients on enhancing laccase production by Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05.

Abstract: The physiological requirements needed to enhance the production of laccases by the ascomycete Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 in submerged cultivation were examined under non-induced and induced (veratryl alcohol, VA) conditions. Under non-induced conditions (-VA), the initial pH, C:N ratio, and inorganic N source did not influence laccase production, in contrast to Tween 80, soybean oil, and copper, which significantly increased laccase production, and proline and urea, which suppressed laccase formation. In addition, Tween 60 could serve as the sole carbon source for the production of these enzymes. Under VA-induced conditions of fungal growth, factors such as inoculum type, time-point of addition of inducer, initial pH, C:N ratio, and type of N source, influenced the production of laccases; however, unlike the non-induced conditions, proline and urea did not act as suppressors. Each of these physiological conditions exerted different effects on biomass production. The nutritional conditions examined for B. rhodina MAMB-05 are discussed in relation to their influence on fungal growth and laccase production.

Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnancy

Abstract: Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, which has a wide geographical distribution. The main infection routes are ingestion of cysts from raw or badly-cooked meat, ingestion of oocysts from substrates contaminated with the feces of infected felines and congenital transmission by tachyzoites. The congenital form results in a severe systemic disease, because if the mother is infected for the first time during gestation, she can present a temporary parasitemia that will infect the fetus. Many of the clinical symptoms are seen in congenitally-infected children, from a mild disease to serious signs, such as mental retardation. Early diagnosis during the pregnancy is highly desirable, allowing prompt intervention in cases of infection, through treatment of pregnant women, reducing the probability of fetal infection and consequent substantial damage to the fetus. Conventional tests for establishment of a fetal diagnosis of toxoplasmosis include options from serology to PCR. Prevention of human toxoplasmosis is based on care to avoid infection, understanding the disease and serological exams during gestation. Pregnant women should be tested serologically from three months gestation, until one month after childbirth. Inclusion of serology for congenital toxoplasmosis along with the basic Guthrie test for PKU is of fundamental importance for early diagnosis of infection and so that treatment is initiated, in order to avoid possible sequels in the infant.