Influence of Listeria innocua on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes

The growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua strains was monitored during this study: (i) in TSB–YE media and (ii) in a food matrix (pasteurized milk) according to the ISO 11290-1 methodology. Different inocula concentrations and mixtures were tested. The response was shown to be strain dependent. In TSB–YE the inhibition of a L. monocytogenes strain was observed in just one of the three mixtures (L. monocytogenes_1340 with L. innocua_11288) showing a reduction of 1.37 log cfu/ml after 42.5 h and 1.85 log after 66.5 h of incubation. In pasteurized milk the inhibition of L. monocytogenes by L. innocua was always observed when L. innocua was present in higher concentrations than L. monocytogenes. The reverse was also observed but only in one mixture (cocktail of six L. monocytogenes with L. innocua_ 2030c) when the initial concentration of L. monocytogenes was 100 times higher than L. innocua suggesting the phenomenon of quorum sensing. Furthermore, inhibitory activity was not caused by bacteriocins, and no correlation between the growth rate and inhibition was demonstrated.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Elaboração e análise de curva de eluição de Na123I para utilização na síntese da 123I-metaiodobenzilguanidina

Uma curva de eluição de 123 Na foi elaborada para determinar o mínimo volume de eluição que contém a maior concentração radioativa deste radioisótopo. A concentração radioativa de 123I deve ser a mais alta possível afim de evitar perdas de 123I na marcação da 123I-metaiodobenzilguanidina, 123I-MIBG, durante a etapa de aquecimento

Characterization of anti-listerial bacteriocin produced by lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional fermented foods from Cambodia

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Refractory Coats’ Disease of Adult Onset

Purpose: We present the case of an 18-year-old Caucasian male with a unilateral macular star and retinal vascular anomalies compatible with adult onset Coats’ disease. Methods: Diagnosis was based on fundoscopic, fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography findings. Results: The patient presented to our emergency department with complaints of low vision in his left eye (LE) detected 10 days before. The best-corrected visual acuity in the LE was 20/50. Fundoscopy of the LE evidenced a complete macular star. Optical coherence tomography showed increased retinal thickness, infiltration of the retinal wall, and detachment of the neuroepithelium. Angiography revealed no appreciable diffusion in the macula. Above the superior temporal (ST) arcade, anomalies in the retinal vasculature were found, with interruption of the peripheral vessels and vessels which were ‘sausage’-like. After 1 month, the LE vision evolved to hand movements. Laser photocoagulation was performed in the ST quadrant. Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab 1.25 mg/0.05 ml and photodynamic therapy were performed without any significant changes, progression of ST serous detachment of the neuroepithelium, and finally progression to macular fibrosis. Discussion: Coats’ disease is usually diagnosed in childhood, but rare cases may occur in adults. Those cases usually have a more indolent course which was not observed in our patient. When there is macular involvement, prognosis is more guarded, despite treatment

Intracellular poly-P assessment by DAPI staining and image analysis

In wastewater treatment, enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is considered a well-established process to remove phosphate (P). EBPR is based on the activity of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) able to take up and store large amounts of P as intracellular (poly-P) granules. However, monitoring poly-P in mixed cultures is usually performed by a laborious and time consuming off-line chemical analysis. Thus, there is a clear need to develop new techniques to rapidly monitor these processes, such as image analysis coupled to sample staining and microscopy inspection. A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was fed with synthetic wastewater containing acetate and propionate as main carbon sources and an orthophosphate solution was added. A COD/P ratio of 10 mg COD mg P-PO4-1 was used to provide selective advantages to PAOs. The SBR was operated with a cycle time of 6 h: 120 min anaerobic including 5 min feed, 180 min aerobic and 60 min wasting/settling. Biomass samples were collected at the end of the aerobic stage. Bulk P concentration was determined by segmented flow analysis and total P concentration was similarly measured following acid digestion at 100oC. Intracellular poly-P concentration was determined by subtracting the bulk P from the total P. Intracellular poly-P granules were observed in epifluorescence microscopy using DAPI staining with a 25 ìg mL-1 DAPI solution. A long pass filter was used with an excitation bandpass of 365-370 nm and emission cut off at 421 nm. A specially developed program in Matlab was used for image analysis. A total of 41 samples were collected. Two thirds were fed as training data to the partial least squares (PLS) model and the remaining used for validation. Both absolute (in mg poly-P / L) and relative (in mg poly-P / g MLSS) intracellular poly-P concentrations were studied. This procedure was found to predict, at some extent, the relative intracellular poly-P concentration (real poly-P = 0.971 x predicted poly-P, R2 of 0.744). Regarding the absolute intracellular poly-P concentration, a total of 3 samples needed to be discarded in order to obtain a similar result (real poly-P = 1.005 x predicted poly-P, R2 of 0.731)

Portuguese version of Cues for Sexual Desire Scale: The influence of relationship duration

Introduction. It is well established that sexual desire is a triggered response to effective sexual stimuli. Factors that trigger women’s sexual desire can change over time and circumstances. The Cues for Sexual Desire Scale (CSDS) is a valuable assessment tool to measure the range and magnitude of such stimuli. Aim. To investigate the psychometric properties of CSDS within a Portuguese community sample of women; to examine the influence of relationship duration on CSDS scores. Methods. Portuguese women (N = 3,687) over age 18 completed a web-based survey of previously pilot-tested items. Main Outcome Measures. Factor structure and internal consistency of CSDS scores; differences between women in longer-term (more than five years) and shorter-term (less than three years) relationships; predictors of CSDS scores. Results. A factor analysis revealed a difference in factor structure between the Portuguese and the original (English) version of CSDS. A five factor solution explained 58.3% of the total variance. The CSDS demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach’s = 0.913). All subscales had a values greater than 0.85. Women in longer-term relationships had significantly fewer cues for sexual desire (M = 124) compared to women in shorter-term relationships (M = 128), t(1,879) = 3.7, P < 0.001. Older women (B = -0.075; P < 0.001), and longer term relationships (B = -0.056; P < 0.05), were significant predictors of lower CSDS-P scores. Additionally, women who masturbated (B = 0.172; P < 0.001) and reached orgasm easily (B = 0.059; P < 0.001) had higher scores for CSDS-P. Conclusions. The CSDS is a useful instrument for identifying triggers that facilitate sexual desire in Portuguese women.Women in longer-term relationships reported fewer cues compared to women in shorter-term relationships. This has clinical implications and suggests that encouraging women to consider newer and varied cues that might evoke or enhance sexual desire may be one means of addressing concerns with low sexual desire