The effectiveness of conventional water treatment in removing Ceratium furcoides (Levander) Langhans, Microcystis sp. and microcystins

Algal blooms are a global problem due to various negative effects that can compromise water quality, such as the production of metabolites that are responsible for odour, colour, taste and toxins. In drinking water supplies algae can reduce the aesthetics of potable water when not readily removed by conventional water treatment processes. One of the major challenges in water treatment is the removal of cells without leading to lysis and the consequent release of dissolved metabolites in the water. The Maestra Reservoir, which is located in Caxias do Sul, RS – Brazil, is a small meso- to supereutrophic reservoir. The reservoir provides water for the Celeste Gobatto water treatment plant (Celeste Gobatto WTP) which uses the conventional method of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of conventional water treatment for the removal of algae, cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. A bloom of Microcystis (Kützing) ex Lemmermann with a density of 23 163 cells∙mL-1, Ceratium furcoides (Levander) Langhans, (5 356 cells∙mL-1) and a microcystin concentration of 1.97 μg∙L-1 was found in the raw water reservoir. Samples sites were assigned the following numbers: (1) raw reservoir water; (2) WTP entry; (3) after sedimentation; (4) filtered water; and (5) treated water. Cell removal was evaluated by cell counting conducted with an inverted microscope, chlorophyll-a by a colorimetric method and microcystin by an enzyme immunoassay kit. Conventional water treatment was effective in removing chlorophyll-a, Microcystis sp. and Ceratium furcoides, mainly in the early treatment steps. Microcystin persisted until the last treatment step, when approximately 50% of the microcystin that had arrived at the WTP was removed by disinfection. Removal of these taxa and toxin was above 98%. Despite the efficacy of Ceratium furcoides removal, the presence of this dinoflagellate in treated water is considered to be large because of its large size.Keywords: Ceratium furcoides, Microcystis sp., microcystin

Sorovares de Salmonella isolados de humanos no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, 1996-2003

A salmonelose permanece uma importante causa de doença diarréica em humanos no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Nesse estudo foram identificados 3554 isolados de Salmonella de infecções humanas, durante o período 1996-2003. Entre os 68 diferentes sorovares determinados, S. Enteritidis foi predominante em infecções gastrointestinais e extra-intestinais, responsável por 67.4% de todos os isolados. S. Typhimurium e S. enterica subsp. enterica (4,5,12:i:-) foram mais freqüentemente isolados de crianças com idade de < 1 a 4 anos, em contraste, infecções por S. Enteritidis foram predominantes em pessoas entre 20 e 50 anos. A contínua vigilância laboratorial das salmoneloses, incluindo a sorotipagem, tem evidenciado os sorovares de Salmonella causando infecções humanas em nossa área geográfica ao longo do tempo.Salmonellosis remains an important cause of diarrheal illness in humans in São Paulo State, Brazil. In this study were identified 3554 Salmonella isolates from human infections, during the period 1996-2003. Among 68 different serovars determined, S. Enteritidis was the most frequent one in gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal infections accounting for 67.4% of all isolates. S. Typhimurium and S. enterica subsp. enterica (4,5,12:i:-) were most frequently isolated from children aged < 1-4 year-old, in contrast, people with S. Enteritidis infections were most likely to be 20-50 year-old. In our geographic area the continued laboratorial surveillance of salmonellosis, including serotyping, has showed the trends in Salmonella serovars causing infections in humans throughout the time

3α,4α-Ep­oxy-5α-androstan-17β-yl acetate

The title compound, C21H32O3, results from modifications of the A and D rings of the aromatase substrate androstenedione. Ring A adopts a conformation between 10β-sofa and 1α,10β half-chair. Rings B and C are in slightly flattened chair conformations. Ring D approaches a 13β-envelope conformation, probably due to the acet­oxy substituent, and shows a very short Csp 3—Csp 3 bond next to the epoxide ring, which is characteristic of 3–4 epoxides.

Protective effect of tomato-oleoresin supplementation on oxidative injury recoveries cardiac function by improving &#946;-adrenergic response in a diet-obesity induced model

The system redox imbalance is one of the pathways related to obesity-related cardiac dysfunction. Lycopene is considered one of the best antioxidants. The aim of this study was to test if the tomato-oleoresin would be able to recovery cardiac function by improving \u3b2-adrenergic response due its antioxidant effect. A total of 40 animals were randomly divided into two experimental groups to receive either the control diet (Control, n = 20) or a high sugar-fat diet (HSF, n = 20) for 20 weeks. Once cardiac dysfunction was detected by echocardiogram in the HSF group, animals were re- divided to begin the treatment with Tomato-oleoresin or vehicle, performing four groups: Control (n = 6); (Control + Ly, n = 6); HSF (n = 6) and (HSF + Ly, n = 6). Tomato oleoresin (10 mg lycopene/kg body weight (BW) per day) was given orally every morning for a 10-week period. The analysis included nutritional and plasma biochemical parameters, systolic blood pressure, oxidative parameters in plasma, heart, and cardiac analyses in vivo and in vitro. A comparison among the groups was performed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The HSF diet was able to induce obesity, insulin-resistance, cardiac dysfunction, and oxidative damage. However, the tomato-oleoresin supplementation improved insulin-resistance, cardiac remodeling, and dysfunction by improving the \u3b2-adrenergic response. It is possible to conclude that tomato-oleoresin is able to reduce the oxidative damage by improving the system\u2019s \u3b2-adrenergic response, thus recovering cardiac function

Perinatal Factors Associated With Early Deaths Of Preterm Infants Born In Brazilian Network On Neonatal Research Centers [fatores Perinatais Associados Ao óbito Precoce Em Prematuros Nascidos Nos Centros Da Rede Brasileira De Pesquisas Neonatais]

Objective: To evaluate perinatal factors associated with early neonatal death in preterm infants with birth weights (BW) of 400-1,500 g. Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study of all infants with BW of 400-1,500 g and 23-33 weeks of gestational age (GA), without malformations, who were born alive at eight public university tertiary hospitals in Brazil between June of 2004 and May of 2005. Infants who died within their first 6 days of life were compared with those who did not regarding maternal and neonatal characteristics and morbidity during the first 72 hours of life. Variables associated with the early deaths were identified by stepwise logistic regression. Results: A total of 579 live births met the inclusion criteria. Early deaths occurred in 92 (16%) cases, varying between centers from 5 to 31%, and these differences persisted after controlling for newborn illness severity and mortality risk score (SNAPPE-II). According to the multivariate analysis, the following factors were associated with early intrahospital neonatal deaths: gestational age of 23-27 weeks (odds ratio - OR = 5.0; 95%CI 2.7-9.4), absence of maternal hypertension (OR = 1.9; 95%CI 1.0-3.7), 5th minute Apgar 0-6 (OR = 2.8; 95%CI 1.4-5.4), presence of respiratory distress syndrome (OR=3.1;95%CI 1.4-6.6), and network center of birth. Conclusion: Important perinatal factors that are associated with early neonatal deaths in very low birth weight preterm infants can be modified by interventions such as improving fetal vitality at birth and reducing the incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome. The heterogeneity of early neonatal rates across the different centers studied indicates that best clinical practices should be identified and disseminated throughout the country. Copyright © 2008 by Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria.844300307Joseph, K.S., Liston, R.M., Dodds, L., Dahlgren, L., Allen, A.C., Socioeconomic status and perinatal outcomes in a setting with universal access to essential health care services (2007) CMAJ, 177, pp. 583-590Mathews, T.J., MacDorman, M.F., Infant mortality statistics from the 2004 period linked birth/infant death data set (2007) Natl Vital Stat Rep, 55, pp. 1-32Kramer, M.S., Demissie, K., Yang, H., Platt, R.W., Sauve, R., Liston, R., The contribution of mild and moderate preterm birth to infant mortality. Fetal and Infant Health Study Group of the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System (2000) JAMA, 284, pp. 843-849Ananth, C.V., Vintzileos, A.M., Epidemiology of preterm birth and its clinical subtypes (2006) J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med, 19, pp. 773-782Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. DATASUS. Informaç ões de Saúde-Estatísticas Vitais- Mortalidade e Nascidos Vivos: nascidos vivos desde 1994. http://tabnet.datasus.gov.br/cgi/deftohtm.exe? sinasc/cnv/nvuf.def. Acesso: 29.10.2007Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. DATASUS. Informaç ões de Saúde-Estatísticas Vitais- Mortalidade e Nascidos Vivos: óbitos infantis - desde 1979. http://tabnet.datasus.gov.br/cgi/ deftohtm.exe?sim/cnv/infuf.def. Acesso: 29.10.2007Barros, F.C., Diaz-Rossello, J.L., The quality of care of very low birth weight babies in Brazil (2007) J Pediatr (Rio J), 83, pp. 5-6Horbar, J.D., Badger, G.J., Carpenter, J.H., Fanaroff, A.A., Kilpatrick, S., LaCorte, M., Trends in mortality and morbidity for very low birth weight infants, 1991-1999 (2002) Pediatrics, 110, pp. 143-151Fanaroff AA, Stoll BJ, Wright LL, Carlo WA, Ehrenkranz RA, Stark AR, et al. Trends in neonatal morbidity and mortality for very low birth weight infants. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;196:147.e1-8(2004) Infra-estrutura para atendimento integral ao recém-nascido, , http://www.sbp.com.br/show_item2.cfm?id_categoria=21&id_detalhe=1636&tipo_detalhe=s.Access:02.11.2007, Departamento de Neonatologia da Sociedade Brasileira de PediatriaBallard, J.L., Khoury, J.C., Wedig, K., Wang, L., Eilers-Walsman, B.L., Lipp, R., New Ballard Score, expanded to include extremely premature infants (1991) J Pediatr, 119, pp. 417-423Alexander, G.R., Himes, J.H., Kaufman, R.B., Mor, J., Kogan, M., A United States national reference for fetal growth (1996) Obstet Gynecol, 87, pp. 163-168Kattwinkel, J., (2000) Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, , 4th ed. Chicago, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics/American Heart Association;Richardson, D.K., Corcoran, J.D., Escobar, G.J., Lee, S.K., SNAP-II and SNAPPE-II: Simplified newborn illness severity and mortality risk scores (2001) J Pediatr, 138, pp. 92-100El-Metwally D, Vohr B, Tucker R. Survival and neonatal morbidity at the limits of viability in the mid 1990s: 22 to 25 weeks. J Pediatr. 2000;137:616-22Costeloe, K., Hennessy, E., Gibson, A.T., Marlow, N., Wilkinson, A.R., The EPICure study: Outcomes to discharge from hospital for infants born at the threshold of viability (2000) Pediatrics, 106, pp. 659-671MacDonald, H., American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Perinatal care at the threshold of viability (2002) Pediatrics, 110, pp. 1024-1027Jain, L., Raju, T.N., editors. Late preterm pregnancy and the newborn (2006) Clin Perinatol, 33, pp. 751-972de Kleine, M.J., den Ouden, A.L., Kollee, L.A., Ilsen, A., van Wassenaer, A.G., Brand, R., Lower mortality but higher neonatal morbidity over a decade in very preterm infants (2007) Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 21, pp. 15-25Moro, M., Figueras-Aloy, J., Fernández, C., Doménech, E., Jiménez, R., Pérez-Rodríguez, J., Mortality for newborns of birthweight less than 1,500 g in Spanish neonatal units (2002-2005) (2007) Am J Perinatol, 24, pp. 593-601Drumond Ede, F., Machado, C.J., Franca, E., Early neonatal mortality: An analysis of multiple causes of death by the Grade of Membership method (2007) Cad Saude Publica, 23, pp. 157-166Richardson, D.K., Shah, B.L., Frantz 3rd, I.D., Bednarek, F., Rubin, L.P., McCormick, M.C., Perinatal risk and severity of illness in newborns at 6 neonatal intensive care units (1999) Am J Public Health, 89, pp. 511-516Horbar, J.D., Rogowski, J., Plsek, P.E., Delmore, P., Edwards, W.H., Hocker, J., Collaborative quality improvement for neonatal intensive care. NIC/Q Project Investigators of the Vermont Oxford Network (2001) Pediatrics, 107, pp. 14-22Vohr, B.R., Wright, L.L., Dusick, A.M., Perritt, R., Poole, W.K., Tyson, J.E., Center differences and outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants (2004) Pediatrics, 113, pp. 781-789Horbar JD, Plsek PE, Leahy KNIC/Q 2000. NIC/Q 2000: establishing habits for improvement in neonatal intensive care units. Pediatrics. 2003;111:e397-410Evans, N., Hutchinson, J., Simpson, J.M., Donoghue, D., Darlow, B., Henderson-Smart, D., Prenatal predictors of mortality in very preterm infants cared for in the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network (2007) Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, 92, pp. F34-F40Walther, F.J., Withholding treatment, withdrawing treatment, and palliative care in the neonatal intensive care unit (2005) EarlyHumDev, 81, pp. 965-972von Dadelszen, P., Magee, L.A., Taylor, E.L., Muir, J.C., Stewart, S.D., Sherman, P., Maternal hypertension and neonatal outcome among small for gestational age infants (2005) Obstet Gynecol, 106, pp. 335-339Casey, B.M., McIntire, D.D., Leveno, K.J., The continuing value of the Apgar score for the assessment of newborn infants (2001) N Engl J Med, 344, pp. 467-471,308-31

Application of super absorbent polymers (SAP) in concrete construction—update of RILEM state-of-the-art report

Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) are a new, promising class of chemical admixtures which offer new possibilities in respect of influencing the properties of cement-based materials in the fresh, hardening, and hardened states. Much research work has been done in the last two decades to set the stage for introducing this truly multipurpose agent into the practice of construction. In particular, three RILEM Technical Committees: 196-ICC, 225-SAP and 260-RSC contributed considerably to the related progress by coordinating and combining the efforts of international experts in the field. The major product of the RILEM TC 225-SAP work was the State-of-the-Art Report published in 2012. This comprehensive document covered all topics relevant to the application of SAP as a concrete admixture. Since then further important progress has been made in understanding the working mechanisms of SAP in concrete and the effects of SAP-addition on various concrete properties. The article at hand presents an update on the state-of-the-art and is the concluding document delivered by the RILEM TC 260-RSC